A SOLDIER went on the run after police broke up an early morning fight because he could not face being "shouted at" if he returned to his unit, a court was told yesterday.

James Watson, a sapper in the Royal Engineers for five years, who saw service in Iraq last year, was arrested after police intervened while he was squaring up to Matthew Waddington outside a Kirkgate nightclub in Ripon, in North Yorkshire, on June 11.

Simon Ostler, prosecuting, told Harrogate magistrates that Watson, 29, had been seen to throw a punch at Mr Waddington and to receive one in the face in return.

Watson, of 38 Engineer Regiment based at Claro Barracks, Ripon, could remember little of the incident because he had been drinking. But when told what police had seen he said he was sorry and embarrassed.

Simon Crosfield, mitigating, said when police released Watson a few hours later, he had gone home to West Yorkshire rather than back to the barracks. He stayed there until Sunday before handing himself in to the police.

Mr Crosfield said Watson, who would now have to face military action for going absent without leave, had told him he had been concerned originally that a return to base would have led to him being shouted at.

Watson, who pleaded guilty to using threatening behaviour provoking fear of violence and failing to answer bail, was fined £200 with £50 costs.