THE fruit and veg seller dubbed the Metric Martyr was yesterday convicted of assaulting a police officer called to a pub brawl.

Steven Thoburn, 37, who is at the forefront of a campaign to protect traditional British measures, grabbed PC Stephen Tempest by the throat and pushed him against a wall, the court was told.

He appeared before Sunderland magistrates with his wife Leigh, 27, who was also involved in the incident.

The court was told Thoburn had gone to the aid of his wife and his sister-in-law, Yvonne Douthwaite, who had been involved in a fight with other customers at the Harbour View pub, in Roker, Sunderland.

PC Sarah Hall said when she entered the pub she was pushed by Thoburn's brother, Kevin.

PC Tempest, who intervened, said Thoburn grabbed him by the throat and pushed him.

Thoburn, of Association Road, Sunderland, told the court his brother had been agitated when he saw Yvonne Douthwaite covered in blood.

He claimed he tried to calm his brother by moving him away when he was pulled from behind.

Thoburn said he shrugged off the person, whom he later learned was a policeman, adding: "I struggled outside because I had done nothing."

Thoburn, who denied threatening and abusive behaviour and assaulting a police officer, was found guilty on both charges. He was fined £300 with £263 costs.

His wife Leigh, who denied using threatening and abusive behaviour, was convicted and given a 12-month conditional discharge.

l Mr Thoburn yesterday branded Sunderland City Council hypocrites after the authority was criticised for erecting a pedestrian sign saying "Fishquay 700m".

It was pointed out to the council, which prosecuted him for weighing bananas using Imperial scales, that metric signs are currently illegal in Britain.