A MAN from Ludlow caught behaving in an abusive way has been fined by magistrates.

James Evans pleaded guilty to one count of using abusive, threatening or insulting words or behaviour with intent to cause fear of or provoke unlawful violence when he appeared before magistrates in Telford last month.

Magistrates in Telford heard from the prosecutor that the 27-year-old had been caught behaving in an abusive way in Hartlepool on December 15 last year.

He had intent to cause the victim to believe that immediate unlawful violence would be used against them, or to provoke the immediate use of unlawful violence whereby that person was likely to believe that such violence would be used, or it was likely that such violence would be provoked.

This is an offence under section four of the Public Order Act 1986.

Evans, of Rocks Green Crescent, Ludlow, was fined £300.

He was also ordered to pay prosecution costs of £135 to the Crown Prosecution Service.