A BARROW teenager hurled abuse at officers in a police van and made offensive gestures because he was “wound up”, a court heard.

Daniel James Chamley, of Egerton Court, Barrow, appeared before Furness Magistrates last week, where he pleaded guilty to using threatening or disorderly behaviour.

Prosecutor Mr Lee Dacre told the court that on September 26, at around 4.40pm, Chamley, 18, was walking down Duke Street in Barrow.

Seeing a police surveillance van, he began to behave abusively to the officers inside, hurling foul language as well as using offensive hand gestures, the court heard.

Officers got out of their van, approached Chamley and attempted to speak to him. When one of the officers asked him to stop taking on his mobile phone, Chamley refused, once again using abusive language towards the officers.

Mr Dacre said: “As officers were dealing with the defendant, they were approached by his support worker.”

The support worker, who was accompanying Chamley around Barrow, asked if they could try and calm him down.

Mr Dacre told the court Chamley refused to calm down, and then began swearing. He then lashed out at the police van, kicking it.

The court heart that during his abusive outburst, there were members of the public and young children nearby.

The court was told Chamley committed the offence while subject to a conditional discharge for a previous charge of criminal damage.

Defending solicitor Maureen Fawcett told the court her client was in a distressed state, having earlier encountered the police at his home. Ms Fawcett told the court Chamley was frustrated at the police, and lost his temper when he saw other police officers.

She said: “He’s gone into the town centre wound up, and then used his finger.”

The magistrates fined Chamley £80 and ordered him to pay a victim surcharge of £30. He was also ordered to pay court costs of £85.

Presiding magistrate Ian Skillen said: “For the offences in front of us today there were youngsters present and there were members of the public present.”

The conditional discharge, which related to an offence on August 21, was revoked and Chamley was re-sentenced for the criminal damage.

Mr Skillen said: “We are going to revoke that conditional discharge and we are going to sentence you for criminal damage, a fine of £180 for that.”

In total, Chamley was ordered to pay £375 in fines and court costs.