that three men threatened to kill him on Court Street.

Dean Lottimore, 23, was fined $500 for violently resisting arrest and using offensive words after the incident last December.

He pleaded guilty to kicking out at Police in a squad car as he was taken to Hamilton Police station.

And Task Force officers immediately arrested Lottimore when he emerged from the courtroom this week -- for non-payment of two traffic fines.

But the defendant had told Magistrate Ed King that he "could not walk down the street like an average person''.

Lottimore, of St. John's Road, Pembroke, said three men threatened him moments after he walked into a Court Street restaurant at around 9.40 p.m. on December 28.

He added: "That night I was threatened by a number of guys and unless the Police had come, there would have been a bigger fight.

"It was all because of another case that I had nothing to do with. I had my life threatened.'' Mr. King asked: "Is it true that you gave evidence in the Rebecca Middleton murder case?'' Lottimore said: "Yes, but I just told them what I knew. That night on Court Street, I hadn't been out there in a long time.

"I went to get some food and the next thing I knew, three guys came at me saying: `Watch your back'.

"I told them if they wanted to do something, to do it right away. I'm tired of all these people threatening me. I'm only defending my own.'' Crown Counsel Lesley Basden said Police arrested Lottimore when he refused to stop using offensive words and hostile behaviour.

She said Lottimore swung his arms at officers on the pavement and kicked out at Police in the patrol car.

Mr. King, reviewing three previous convictions for similar offences, turned to Lottimore and said: "I can understand that you might retaliate.

"But you haven't learned your lesson from before about resisting the Police.'' Lottimore said: "But me, as a guy, I can't walk down the street like your average guy.'' Mr. King added: "If you can't go down certain areas without being threatened, don't go down there.

"I can't walk down the street like an average guy either. I used to go in Swinging Doors but I can't go in there anymore. I'd get swung out.

"If you are wrong, you are wrong. If my mother came in front of me because she had broken the law, that's it -- she's gone to prison.

"She wouldn't get any break from me. She would have to be treated the same way as anybody else.

"If a man is accused of breaking the law he should be arrested and go quietly with Police. If he found out later he was unlawfully arrested, only then might he have some recourse.'' He gave Lottimore, who began work at the English Sports Shop warehouse yesterday, until June 1 to pay the $500 fine for violently resisting arrest.

The defendant was also bound over for 12 months for using threatening words.

But Lottimore was re-arrested as soon as he walked out of court -- because Police claimed two traffic fines totalling $800, due to be paid last August, were still outstanding.