A CHESTER man has been fined £300 following an incident which began when he pressed the button at a pedestrian crossing but then carried on walking along the pavement.

Thomas David Turner, 32, of Caughall Road, Upton, was stopped by police on Mill Lane having previously pressed the button for the traffic lights to change on a nearby road, but then didn't cross the road.

Chester Magistrates Court heard on Friday, June 21 Turner accept he was "obnoxious" to the female police officer, was swearing and arguing with her, and had to be sprayed when being handcuffed.

Turner pleaded guilty to being drunk and disorderly in public and obstructing a police officer.

Prosecuting, Alan Currums said it was 12.30am on June 2 when police were on vehicle patrol near Mill Lane when they had seen Turner press the button but not cross the road. The police car, which was delayed by the lights, pulled alongside him but Turner did not engage, looking drunk, and he was "verbally aggressive".

As the officer tried to explain the situation, Turner – who said he had been in the pub all day – tried to barge past the officer, saying: "I just pressed the f***ing button, I don't need to give you anything."

Police went to arrest Turner but he began resisting and had to be sprayed with incapacitant spray.

Mr Currums said Turner had one previous conviction in 2005 and a caution in 2013 for resisting a police officer.

Defending, Neil Catherall said it was an incident which "quickly unravelled".

Turner had been watching the Champions League final at the pub and, while walking and approaching the crossing, pressed the button but decided to continue down the road.

While Turner claimed the police officer berated him for causing inconvenience, he accepted he was "obnoxious" to her and not thinking straight, and "quite embarrassed by his behaviour", knowing police had better things to do with their time than deal with people acting in this way.

He worked as a manager at a property firm and his wife was very angry with him.

It was "an unfortunate series of events", Mr Catherall added, noting Turner had entered a prompt guilty plea.

Magistrates handed Turner a £300 fine and he must pay £85 court costs and a £30 victim surcharge.

As he left the dock, Turner said: "Sorry to inconvenience you" to the magistrates.