AN EX-ARMY serviceman head-butted a cop outside Elliot's in Prestwick after drinking 'too much alcohol'.

Gary Shearer, of Sunnyside Cottages, Culzean Castle Country Park pleaded guilty to assaulting the police constable on Prestwick's Main Street on November, 22 last year.

He also admitted behaving in a threatening manner, likely to cause fear or alarm, by shouting, swearing and attempting to gain entry by force to the licensed premise despite being intoxicated.

Shearer owned up to resisting three other police officers, in the execution of their duty by struggling violently with them on the same night.

He appeared before Sheriff Mhairi MacTaggart at Ayr Sheriff Court last Tuesday, May 10.

Procurator Fiscal Mhairi Nairn, said: "At 1am police officers were on patrol and came across the accused on the street. He was asked to leave the area but he began to shout that he was ex-army.

"He tried to push past and get into the premise. But police stopped this. As he was being lifted he lashed out with his arms and legs then head-butted a constable who was walking him to the car.

Speaking on his behalf, defence solicitor Derek Pettigrew, said: "He was outside Elliots at 1am trying to secure entry to take more drink. There are a number of issues in his life that need to be addressed.

"It is clear from the report he is ashamed of his behaviour. He has little recollection of the event. Since he has been discharged from the army he finds it hard to find peace of mind in life and takes solace in alcohol and drinks occasionally.

"It was Mr Shearer's drinking that lead to this behaviour and has remained quite sober since."

Sheriff Mhairi MacTaggart addressed the dock: " I am not unsympathetic at all to what you have been through. There are clearly issues that will need to be looked at otherwise you are going to keep on offending.

"You take solace in alcohol and then you commit offences and that is what concerns me. I want you to stop this behaviour."

Shearer has been ordered to complete 12 months community payback order and 135 hours unpaid work within nine months.