A PEEBLES man has been banned from the town's County Inn for the next 12 months after causing a disturbance.

Peter Morey, 21, of Dalatho Crescent, pleaded guilty to charges of assault to injury, possession of an offensive weapon, two assaults, assaulting a police officer and threatening or abusive behaviour.

Selkirk Sheriff Court was told the offence happened last month after Morey had been out drinking with a friend.

Graham Fraser, prosecuting, said: "They had already been chucked out of another pub and they went along to the County Inn.

"His friend was refused service because he was intoxicated and they were asked to leave the premises "The friend then became involved in an aggressive conversation with other people in the premises.

"The accused went to the bar to order some food and the comments coming from him were becoming increasingly aggressive.

"What then happened was that the accused was again asked by staff to leave and refused to do so."

Mr Fraser then described how Morey launched an attack on a man caught on CCTV repeatedly punching him on the face.

At that point police officers entered and Morey was seen to be holding something in his hand.

There were concerns he was holding a weapon and the officers told him to drop it.

It was found to be a knuckle duster and it was removed from him.

Morey then spat blood and saliva into the face of an off duty police officer who had intervened and then did the same to another officer.

Morey kicked another officer on the legs and continued shouting and swearing in the police car.

He was taken to Borders General Hospital for a check-up because he was "hyper-ventilating" and continued shouting and swearing in the accident and emergency department at 10.25pm when it was busy with other patients.

Mr Fraser pointed out that the incident had started around 6pm which showed how long Morey had been disruptive.

He added that Morey could not be cautioned and charged because of his abrasive and aggressive nature.

Defence lawyer Mat Patrick said: "He remembers very little about this."

Sheriff Donald Corke said the offences could easily have attracted a custodial sentence but said there was an alternative.

He imposed a 12 months Community Pay Back Order with supervision and 200 hours unpaid work.

An exclusion order was also imposed banning Morey from the County Inn for the next 12 months.