A 20-YEAR-OLD Omagh man claimed that 'goading and harassment' from a police sergeant was the backdrop to a disorderly behaviour conviction.

Connor Colgan of Summerfield Court was fined £200 for the offence.

The Court was told that on November 19 last year, police observed the defendant shouting at the top of his voice in High Street, Omagh after being refused admission to a licensed premises. When told by PSNI officers to go home Colgan continued to shout and made 'an obscene hand gesture' towards a police vehicle.

Defence counsel, Michael Fahy, stated that Colgan had been approached a number of times prior to the arrest by a police sergeant known to him, who he claimed had been 'goading the defendant for a number of years.'

He added that Colgan had actually moved to Belfast to get away from the harassment. On the night of the incident he said the police officer had made 'disparaging remarks about a family member' and the offence could be taken in context of that harassment. Apologising for his behaviour Colgan said he had no problem or antipathy towards the police.

Imposing the fine, Resident Magistrate Greg McCourt described the defendant's behaviour as 'unsatisfactory.'