The 25-year-old midfielder was conditionally discharged for a year and ordered to pay £50 compensation after admitting being drunk and disorderly in Lynn's Tuesday Market Place and damaging a phone belonging to Norfolk Police.

Doherty, of 7 Beecham Drive, King's Reach, Lynn, was also ordered to pay £40 costs.

Kevin Eastwick, prosecuting, said Doherty was refused entry to The Globe at about 10pm on December 21. He was given a couple of opportunities to shut up and go home by door staff and the police but after further verbal abuse was arrested.

"He effectively talked himself into being arrested," said Mr Eastwick.

At the police station, Doherty was given the chance to consult with a solicitor using a phone passed into his cell but it ended up in the toilet, said Mr Eastwick.

James MacWhirter, for Doherty, said it was regrettable his client had let his mouth run away with him.

He had been out with his girlfriend and maintained he was not adversely affected by drink. A couple of doormen had asked him to turn out his pockets because because they suspected he had drugs. He was affronted because, as a semi-professional footballer he took his physical fitness very seriously. The search proved negative but the doormen asked him to leave, said Mr MacWhirter.

Doherty accepted he was generally unpleasant towards the door staff in the presence of the police. His loss of temper led to him spending nearly 12 hours in a police cell. He threw the phone he was given at the cell wall and it ricocheted into the toilet, said Mr MacWhirter.

"It's a shame because he is fundamentally a decent man who holds down a responsible job and has just bought a new home," said Mr MacWhirter.