A MAN who had been arguing outside a Worcester takeaway claimed he was treated “like a dog” after police ordered him to leave the city centre to stop disorder breaking out.

Mark Walker, who had been drinking, was ordered to leave Angel Street in Wor-cester after trouble flared between him and someone he knew. He was arrested after he ignored police warnings, a court was told.

The 22-year-old, of Rose Avenue, Tolladine, Worcester, admitted failing to comply with a direction by a police constable to leave the area under section 27 of the Violent Crime Reduction Act 2006 on September 29, when he appeared before city magistrates on Monday.

The order stipulates the person must leave and not return within 24 hours to prevent “alcohol-related crime or disorder”.

Adrian Jones, prosecuting, said the incident began at around 2.15am when police on foot patrol became aware of an argument taking place in Angel Street between two people which began in a takeaway.

Mr Jones said: “He (Walker) said he was going to go home but 10 minutes later he was seen back in Angel Street and being verbally abusive to passers-by.” He was then served with the section 27 notice but became confrontational with the officers and began shouting his personal details, Mr Jones said.

Walker was again seen talking to other officers who were then made aware of the section 27 notice.

He was again told to go home as they tried to usher him into St Nicholas Street. Mr Jones said: “He was accusing officers of treating him like a dog.”

David Ollivere, defending, said Walker had entered an early guilty plea and, be-cause of the nature of the offence, could only be dealt with by way of financial penalty.

He said: “He attends a fast food establishment to get food, before going home and while there he comes across an associate who calls him names. “That leads to the initial disagreement which comes to the attention of the police.

“He felt a lack of respect was shown to him (by police officers) and in turn he has shown a lack of respect to the officers. Much of his offending consists of petty offending in drink.”

The court was told that Walker owes £1,649 in un-paid fines which is being deducted from his benefits (job-seekers allowance). When asked he if had any prospect of getting a job, he replied ‘no’.

He was fined £75 and ordered to pay costs of £85 and a £20 victim surcharge.