A man who called a policeman a "racist pig" after being stopped for swearing was found guilty of disorderly behaviour yesterday.

Soloman Adeley, 30, had denied committing the offence at Terrings Avenue in Worthing on October 6.

Sergeant Michael Jones, who has been a policeman for 12 years, said he was in a patrol car with PC Sarah Loveland when he heard Adeleye swear at them.

He stopped the car, but said Mr Adeleye did not stop when called. When confronted, Mr Adeleye called Sgt Jones racist and was arrested.

Sgt Jones said: "I found that extremely distressing and insulting and from the professional point of view there is nothing more damaging to a police officer in this day and age than to be called a racist."

Adeleye gave his address as care of MP Peter Bottomley in Ambrose Place Worthing.

He said he had not sworn at officers but had been talking on his mobile phone. He broke down in tears under cross-examination and said he called Sgt Jones a "racist pict" because of his previous treatment by police.

His pregnant wife Kylie, an epileptic, collapsed as she gave evidence and had to be taken to hospital.

Adeleye told the court: "I feel love towards Sergeant Jones, but I don't think people should be harassed because of their colour. I didn't see why he stopped me. It was his treatment of me that annoyed me."

Mr Bottomley, who was called as a defence witness, said he had known the Adeleyes for more than two years and had offered them a place to stay at his Worthing home.

He said Adeleye had been tortured while he was in Nigeria and had a history with the police including a complaint which was upheld after an officer called his wife a slag.

He added he contacted Worthing Police after the incident and got them to take a photograph of Adeleye's injuries and made sure an X-Ray was taken of his fractured wrist.

Mr Bottomley said: "Everything Soloman has said to me has turned out to be true and he has never misled me.

"I have always made it a rule not to prejudice cases in court, keeping back my individual view. My role is to give justice the greatest chance of being done and equality of arms."

The magistrates found Adeleye guilty, conditionally discharged him for a year and ordered him to pay £249 costs.

Mrs Holdsworth, chair of the bench, said: "We believe the evidence of Sergeant Jones and PC Loveland. He did suffer distress following the grossly insulting words of Soloman Adeleye. We don't believe his version of the evidence and don't find him a credible witness."