A University of Ulster student, who had been drinking for several hours after exams at the beginning of last month became involved in a disturbance with police in the Holylands area of Belfast, a Court heard.

The Prosecutor said the accused was hanging around the junction of Carmel Street and University Avenue when he started shouting verbal abuse at a police patrol.

Despite being warned about his behaviour, Noel Robert Phair (25) of Mill Hill Road, Gortcommon, Newtownbutler, continued to be abusive to officers, leading to his arrest for using disorderly conduct.

During the course of the arrest, Phair was said to have put up a struggle and lashed out at police.

The verbal abuse continued en route to the station, where the defendant was charged with using disorderly conduct and resisting arrest.

Explaining that the accused had been drinking for several hours that day after finishing exams, the solicitor for Phair, whom he described as a final year engineering student, said his client deeply regretted his actions.

Magistrate Eamon King said the defendant will soon be going out into the world to earn a living, and would expect to be treated with courtesy and respect.

"You didn't show much respect to the police officers who were doing their job.

"I hope you realise that you made a complete fool of yourself," he added, before imposing two fines of £150 for each of the two offences.