A MAN who wrote obscenities in a book of condolence for Princess Diana was fined and ticked off in court today.

Michael Robert Birtwell, 28, of Higher Antley Street, Accrington, queued up with mourners wanting to pay their respects at Accrington Town Hall on Wednesday.

When his turn came to sign the book of condolence, he wrote a string of abuse including the words, "Scum Di, Class War."

The book had to be taken off public display while staff deleted the offensive words and later put it back for mourners to sign.

At Blackburn Magistrates' Court today, Birtwell admitted a charge of disorderly behaviour in writing threatening, abusive or insulting words likely to cause distress.

A charge of criminal damage was dropped after stipendiary magistrate Jonathon Finestein said the words might be offensive but did not amount to criminal damage.

He fined Birtwell £100 with £40 costs.

Birtwell sobbed throughout the short hearing and told the magistrate: "I wish to offer my apologies to anyone I caused distress to. I'm deeply, deeply sorry." Birtwell had been held in custody for two days following the offence.

After the hearing he said: "I'm disgusted with myself."

Mr Finestein told him: "What you did was to make a most offensive and absolutely disgraceful entry into a book of condolence. That book means an awful lot to many people who have gone to pay their respects at a time of great national mourning. Why you did this I have no idea.

"The public will be absolutely outraged by this sort of behaviour and I hope you understand that.

"You have spent two days in custody as a punishment for what you have done.

"I think you have learned your lesson."

The court was told that Birtwell had drunk 15 pints the night before and told police he was still feeling groggy when he made the entry. He could remember very little of what had happened at the town hall.

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