AN ABUSIVE man has been fined after swearing in the street in Hereford.

Will Stevens admitted using threatening and abusive words or behaviour when he appeared before magistrates in Hereford.

Police were called to an incident in Hereford on October 21, prosecutor Ralph Robyns Landricombe said.

Stevens, who has 27 previous convictions, was swearing loudly and was warned several times to stop.

But he continued and was arrested due to his behaviour in order to prevents a breach of the peace as he was in a public area overlooked by houses, officers said.

He was then taken to hospital after banging his head against the side of the police car, and was later de-arrested and reported for a public order offence due to the length of the wait at the hospital, the court heard.

George Cousins, for Stevens, said the 46-year-old had been arrested "basically on his front doorstep."

"He was agitated by the circumstances and by the number of police officers arriving, and accepts that he reacted badly," Mr Cousins said.

Stevens, of Whitecross Road, Hereford, was fined £40 and must pay costs of £135 and a £34 victim surcharge.