FORMER councillor Noel O'Brien has been back in court days after his release from jail – this time for abusing and insulting police.

0'Brien, 58, said to have a history of mental health problems, had continually rung the buzzer at Rossendale police station, demanded to see an inspector and then abused the assistant, telling her he paid her wages, she was a hag and too old to work in a police station.

He then called an officer useless and threatened to knock his head off, Burnley Magistrates’ Court heard.

O’Brien was arrested and 11 days later phoned the police to speak to an inspector.

The court heard he was abusive, called the operator ugly and said: “I hope you die and your kids get rabies.”

The defendant was jailed for 28 days for racially aggravated common assault earlier this month after an incident with a Polish traffic warden.

This week he admitted words or behaviour likely to cause harassment, alarm or distress and sending by the public communications network an offensive message.

O'Brien, of Mercent Crescent, Haslingden, admitted the offences and said: “You can't speak your mind in this country any more. What can you do?”

He added: “Police can be easily upset these days.”

No evidence was offered on an allegation of police assault.

Magistrates sentenced him to a 12-month supervision order with the Controlling Anger and Learning to Manage it programme.

Norman Wilcock, prosecuting, said on January 5, the defendant rang the police station bell despite seeing a member of support staff.

He asked for an inspector but was told no officer was available to speak to him and swore.

O'Brien was warned to curb his language, he refused and called the assistant a liar.

A uniformed officer then arrived and O'Brien told him: “I pay your wages useless.”

Mr Wilcock said on January 16, O'Brien phoned Lancashire Police Pennine Division communications, asked to speak to an inspector and then was abusive, swearing repeatedly.

Sara Lyle, for 0'Brien, said he had gone straight to the police station to seek help after he went into the offices of the Rossendale Free Press newspaper and they would not deal with him.

As he was waiting he saw two officers go in the back way but was frustrated after being told there was nobody available.

He admitted using “Anglo Saxon” language and telling the assistant she was not telling the truth. He wanted to apologise to her.

Miss Lyle said the defendant committed the second offence when he became frustrated because he could not speak to someone in authority.

She said O'Brien did a lot for the community and said his wife had recently died and he was grieving.

The solicitor said: “He has been suffering from mental health problems for quite some years.”