A DRUNKEN West Wight man who was refused travel on a bus and in a taxi, decided to protest, an Isle of Wight court heard.

He ran in and out of traffic, sat in protest on a taxi bonnet and was abusive, Island magistrates were told on Tuesday.

David Patrick Marsh, of Fort Warden Road, Totland, admitted being drunk and disorderly in South Street, Newport, on February 19.

Jobless Marsh, 30, had been travelling by bus from Freshwater to Shanklin, via a change of service at Newport Bus Station.

Drinking three beers on top of medication taken for mental health issues and a degenerative eye condition, caused him to behave out of character, said Oscar Vincent, in mitigation.

When Marsh was refused entry on the bus to Shanklin, due to his drunken demeanour, he was abusive to the driver and threatened to disrupt traffic and cause harm to himself and others, explained Liz Miller, prosecuting.

At around 5.30pm, police received numerous reports from the public of a drunken man running in and out of traffic and being abusive towards passers-by.

Marsh then tried to get a taxi, but was refused travel.

He reacted by opening all the taxi doors and sitting on the bonnet in protest — shouting and swearing at the taxi driver, demanding to be driven to Shanklin, explained Miss Miller.

While Marsh was on the bonnet, the driver moved the taxi forward, which caused him to fall.

Marsh, who continued his tirade of abusive until his arrest, claimed his shins were injured by the taxi driver's manoeuvre, which, with his disorientation, had added to his anxiety and upset, said Mr Vincent.

As Marsh had already been on probation since October, magistrates handed him a 12-month conditional discharge, with £85 costs and a £22 victim surcharge — warning him to stay out of trouble.