Karim Roland Francis, 22, of Halfway Lane, spent one night in custody and was fined $150 for using offensive words at the Esso service station on Par-La-Ville Road on Christmas Eve.

He pleaded guilty this week in Magistrates' Court.

Prosecuting, Police acting Insp. Rex Osborne said Francis had previous convictions for the same offence in 1991 and 1989.

In the latest incident, Francis was told to leave the Esso station but "told them in no uncertain terms he wasn't going,'' Insp. Osborne said.

When he persisted, Police were called and arrested Francis, he said.

"You don't make yourself a bigger man, you know, by using that sort of foul language,'' said Magistrate the Wor. John Judge.