A MAN who appeared in court wearing a plastic pig's nose has been jailed for 14 days for contempt.

Gordon Palmer refused to remove the pink joke nose, despite being asked three times by Selby magistrates.

He said he was wearing it in protest against his treatment by police.

Palmer, 47, of St Mary's Avenue, Hemingbrough, appeared in court charged with disorderly behaviour and criminal damage to the interior of a police van.

As he walked into the court room with the nose strapped to his face, clerk of the court Julian Cundiff told him he had already been warned that he would not be allowed in unless he removed it.

Mr Cundiff ordered him out and told him to return without the mask, otherwise he risked being in contempt of court.

Palmer refused and was escorted to the cells by a Group 4 officer - but returned still wearing the nose and this time in handcuffs, and flanked by two security officers.

The defendant, who also contested the refusal of legal aid, was sent to the court cells again.

Duty solicitor Lucy Branston was then sent to speak to Palmer.

When he returned a third time, he was still wearing the pig's nose.

Mrs Branston, for Palmer, said he was wearing the nose as a protest against the treatment he had received from police, and the way he was charged with the offence.

She said: "He says he does not wish to offend the court, but is not prepared to apologise."

Palmer brandished papers at the magistrates, saying: "I'm protesting about what has happened.

"It's a protest against pigs.

"I'll tell you something, pigs can fly. They do it in helicopters."

Palmer claimed that after his arrest, the driver of the police van slammed on the brakes viciously, propelling him forward into a grille.

He demanded his questions about his treatment be answered and refused to co-operate with the court.

As he was led away to the cells, Palmer swore and shouted: "What a waste of taxpayers' money - it's barmy."

Palmer will reappear at Selby Magistrates Court on November 6, to answer the charges of disorderly behaviour and criminal damage.

Updated: 11:23 Saturday, September 08, 2001