A MAN from South Ham told a volunteer police officer that he wished he could run him over after being arrested, a court has heard.

Jonathan Bagan started verbally abusing Special Constable Punter at Basingstoke Investigation Centre in October last year, a court has heard, saying: "What a shame about PC Harper, I wish I was the one to run him over."

Police officers had attended his address in Paddock Road on October 19 on another matter, when he was arrested.

Whilst the 30-year-old was in custody, officers found cocaine in house, which his defence counsel, Chris Curtis, said was "akin to personal use".

Bagan pleaded guilty to both offences - possession of a class A drug and using threatening words to cause harassment - at Basingstoke Magistrates' Court on Tuesday afternoon.

He was fined a total of almost £500 for the two offences and costs.

Prosecuting, David Fossler said: "Police officers had attended the address to deal with another matter.

"We are told that he was aggressive. Whilst in the holding cell, he became very aggressive."

Meanwhile, Mr Curtis said that Bagan, who now spends most of his week "sofa surfing", had done well to stay out of trouble for over a year.

Addressing the Magistrates, he said: "I would ask you to bear in mind the guilty plea.

"They spent an hour in the holding cell. In his drunk and agitated state he said something he now regrets."

Mr Curtis said that Bagan, who appeared in the dock wearing a navy blue hoodie and jeans, had been suffering with depression since his wife took her own life eight years ago, and wanted to apologise for the "inappropriate comments".

Mrs Woolford, Chair of Magistrates, gave the painter and decorator a fine of nearly £500.

He will have to pay £130 for possession of class A drugs and £200 for the verbal abuse, as well as £85 in costs and a £32 as a victim surcharge.

The forfeiture and destruction of the cocaine was ordered.

Newlywed PC Andrew Harper, 28, died from multiple injuries after being dragged under a van on August 15 last year, near Sulhamstead.

Henry Long, 18 from Mortimer near Reading, and two 17-year-old boys – who cannot be identified for legal reasons – have been charged with his murder and an alternative count of manslaughter and conspiracy to steal a quad bike.

Long pleaded guilty to the lesser charge of manslaughter earlier this month, whilst both 17-year-olds pleaded not guilty to murder and conspiracy to steal.

The three teenagers are due to face a six-week trial at the Old Bailey from March 9.

A fourth man, Thomas King, 21, from Gregory Close in Basingstoke, pleaded guilty to conspiracy to steal a quad bike in December.