A BARROW man squared up to an off-duty police officer as if he was ‘a boxer getting ready for a fight’, a court heard.

Anthony Robson was outside Greggs in Dalton Road at lunchtime on Thursday September 19.

An off-duty police officer saw Robson, of Egerton Court, shouting and swearing and went over to him and asked him to leave the area.

Robson refused to leave and then ‘began to jump around and getting in the officer’s face’.

Police were then called and 38-year-old Robson was arrested on suspicion of committing a public order offence.

At South Cumbria Magistrates’ Court yesterday Robson pleaded guilty to using threatening or abusive words or behaviour likely to cause harassment, alarm or distress.

Prosecutor Pam Ward told the court: “On Thursday September 19 outside Greggs in Dalton Road at 12.10pm the defendant was witnessed by an off-duty officer shouting and swearing in a public place.

“He was asked to move on and leave the area. He began to jump around, getting in the officer’s face like a boxer getting ready for a fight.

“Members of the public were getting distressed.”

Mrs Ward told magistrates Robson had a ‘lengthy record’ and his last conviction was in August for a similar public order offence.

“This is his 200th offence,” she added.

Robson said: “To be honest I can’t remember a thing. I have significant mental health problems and I can’t remember anything on a daily basis.”

The court heard Robson owes £1,689.46 to the courts in outstanding fines.

He was fined £40 and ordered to pay a £32 victim surcharge and £85 costs.