AN-off duty policeman was involved in a boozy bust-up with John Travolta and Uma Thurman at a charity fancy dress party in the Borders.

Constable Pierce Solley refused to leave the function when asked on several occasions and clashed with the event organisers who were dressed as the main characters from the film, Pulp Fiction.

It was claimed the 23-year-old threatened to punch Janice Darrie - a woman in her 60s - who was dressed as gangster's wife Mia Wallace who was played by Thurman in the hit crime movie.

Mrs Darrie had intervened and asked Solley to leave after he ignored a similar request from her husband Thomas who was dressed Vincent Vega, played by Travolta in Pulp Fiction.

Bar staff told Jedburgh Sheriff Court they heard Solley say the words "punch you in the face" during the ruckus but could not confirm in what context this was meant.

Police were called to the "Monsters Ball" at the Cross Keys Hotel in Kelso, and initially Solley still refused to leave but was eventually escorted from the premises.

His career is now hanging in the balance after pleading guilty to a charge of behaving in a threatening or abusive manner on the night of October 27 after he had earlier been at a horse race meeting at Kelso.

He admitted challenging others to fight and refusing to leave when asked to do so by event organisers and behaving in an aggressive and intimidating manner towards customers and staff.

But defence lawyer Pamela Rodgers highlighted a number of factors which happened during the course of the evening saying the event organisers had reacted in an "excessive" manner and he had become "exacerbated" with the situation which caused him to act aggressively.

She said Solley's comment "why do you want to go outside - do you want to hit me" was a "weak challenge" to fight.

She said a criminal conviction would affect his police career and also to coach cricket to youngsters, and asked for Solley to be given an absolute discharge.

Sheriff Peter Paterson granted an absolute discharge but Solley - who has been on "modified duties" at Hawick Police Station since the incident - still faces the prospect of disciplinary proceedings from Police Scotland.

Procurator fiscal Graham Fraser told the court how Solley had been at Kelso Races during the day and had turned up at the fancy dress ball between 8.30pm and 9pm wearing a suit.

He was allowed into the premises but the event organiser Amy Dorrie - daughter of Janice and Thomas - thought he was a "bit drunk" and that soon had a negative effect on his behaviour at the bar and towards staff.

Mr Fraser said Solley was spotted waving a hip flask at the bar which he was asked to hand over and did but later was pointing at barmaid Deborah Mellor and asking why she had taken it from him.

She told the court she would not have served him alcohol due to his manner but he was served a soft drink.

It was then that the parents of the event organisers, Thomas and Janice Darrie, approached Solley and asked him to leave but he refused to do so.

Mr Fraser said witnesses heard Solley say "hit me, hit me" during the commotion but the police officer claimed he had not threatened to punch anyone in the face Solley told the court that he was approached by a large male, who turned out to be Mr Dorrie, who told him he should go outside but he did not think it was safe saying:"What are you going to do to me, are you going to hit me?"

Solley then claimed Mrs Dorrie came up to him and said did he want to punch her in the face.

He said: "I was in sheer disbelief. I do not know why she would want me to punch her in the face."

Solley admitted with hindsight he should have left the party or gone to another part of the hotel but he was trying to organise a lift back to his home town of Hawick when the argument escalated.

Solley, c/o Police Scotland's Professional Standards Department at Fettes in Edinburgh, had been employed as a police officer since June 2017 stationed in Kelso and Galashiels but has latterly been doing "modified duties" at Hawick.

Superintendent Craig Blackhall said: "Police Scotland is aware of the outcome of this case and a report will be submitted to the Deputy Chief Constable for consideration."