Clarendon Vale man Klaye Anthony Chatters tells Magistrates Court he became abusive after police officer called him ‘scum’

A Clarendon Vale man who pleaded guilty to a charge of disorderly conduct has told a court he became abusive after a police officer swore at him and called him “scum”.

Police were called to help a Metro bus driver deal with a group of people drinking alcohol on a bus at Glenorchy on March 9.

A CLARENDON Vale man who pleaded guilty to a charge of disorderly conduct has told a court he became abusive after a police officer swore at him and called him “scum”.

The Hobart Magistrates Court today heard police boarded a Metro bus at the Glenorchy bus mall about 10.15pm on March 9 to help the driver deal with a group of people drinking alcohol on the bus.

A police prosecutor told the court Klaye Anthony Chatters, 21, of Clarendon Vale, said “This is f … d” after police asked the group to leave the bus.

The prosecutor said Chatters, when given a directive to leave the bus mall, walked into the middle of the road, waved his arms around and said: “Youse are f … d, I ain’t f … ing scared of anyone.”

Chatters told the court the group did not refuse to leave the bus.

He said after he left the bus he realised he didn’t have his mobile phone.

“I asked two female police officers if I could search the bus for my phone,” he said.

Chatters said the officers gave him permission to do so and as he was leaving the bus after looking for his phone, a male officer swore at him and called him “scum”.

“I got arrested and that is when I started to get abusive,” he said.

Deputy Chief Magistrate Michael Daly recorded a conviction and ordered Chatters pay court costs.

“As far as disorderly conduct goes, there’s nothing particularly aggravating about it. You’re not charged with any offence involving a challenge to police authority,” Mr Daly said.