A GALASHIELS man directed sectarian comments at police officers and threatened to kill them during a drunken disturbance.

Dean Campbell pleaded guilty to the offence near his Bridge Street home and at Borders General Hospital.

Selkirk Sheriff Court was told the 39-year-old was shouting and swearing in the accident and emergency department on May 10 and was signing "Hello, hello, we are the Billy Boys" before threatening the officers.

Sheriff Peter Paterson said he was not prepared to accept Campbell's bigotry and called for the production of a Criminal Justice Social Work Report and a Restriction of Liberty Order assessment.

Sentence was deferred until December 4.