A MAN who said he earned £60,000 a year asked magistrates for time to pay £300 after admitting abusing police within hours of arriving in Harrogate.

Robert David Lawrence was arrested yesterday after police were called to a caravan parked in the garden of a house in the town's Claro Road, following allegations of damage to a car.

Michael Hammond, prosecuting, said Lawrence, 33, was drunk and repeatedly swore at officers, ignoring requests that he moderate his language or be arrested.

Lawrence, of Wanstead, London, told police he was due to go to Australia on Thursday. He was kept in the cells overnight.

He pleaded guilty to using threatening behaviour and told the court: "I am sorry for what happened and I'll take the punishment that you give me."

When he was fined £250 with £50 costs he said he would settle the bill within 28 days. But after telling presiding magistrate Mike Garnett he had an annual salary of £60,000 he was ordered to pay immediately.

Lawrence said he had arrived in Harrogate less than three hours before he was arrested and had left his credit cards in London.

Mr Garnett told Lawrence his behaviour had been unacceptable and said: "You will pay before you go."