A former Arsenal and Colchester United football player has been fined by police for "abusive and insulting" language and behaviour.

Perry Groves, who still lives in Colchester, was issued with a fixed penalty notice by officers after he was arrested in Crouch Street.

An Essex Police spokesman said: "A 43-year-old man from Colchester was issued with a fixed penalty notice for a section 5 public order offence, for using abusive and insulting words and behaviour, likely to cause harassment, alarm or distress."

He would not confirm the identity of the arrested man.

When contacted by the Gazette, Mr Groves said he did not want to comment, but dismissed the incident as "nothing" and insisted the fixed penalty notice was "just a fine".

The 43-year-old began his footballing career as an apprentice at Colchester United in 1981. He turned professional a year later, playing 142 league games and scoring 26 goals for the club over the next four seasons.

In 1986 he transferred to Arsenal, where he played for six years before moving to Southampton.

The Crouch Street incident took place at about 1.15am on April 26.

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