A DRUNK arrested at the Moonrakers pub after being aggressive to staff urinated on the floor of a police cell and tried to clear up the mess with his socks Swindon magistrates heard.

Prosecutor Keith Ballinger said police were called to the pub on November 8 following reports of a disturbance.

When they arrived and told Michael Moran to stop swearing and to leave the premises he swore again and demanded a brandy.

He refused to leave and was arrested, responding as his rights were read with more swearing and informing the officers that they were not taking him anywhere.

During the booking-in procedure he was uncooperative and aggressive. Later at 11.25pm, the CCTV monitor in his cell showed him urinating on the floor.

He was then seen taking his socks off and soaking them in the puddle before using the cell blanket to mop up the mess. “His cell had to be deep cleaned afterwards,” said Mr Ballinger.

In interview Moran, formerly of Cricklade Road, admitted being an alcoholic and told police he drank a bottle of red wine and a couple of lagers before going out to the pub, but claimed he was not drunk.

He said he crossed the road to the pub, which was opposite his home, although he had been barred from the premises the previous year. He told police he went to find out why.

Moran, 53, who has a previous conviction for causing criminal damage and was convicted in October of being drunk and disorderly, admitted using threatening behaviour and causing criminal damage to the cell.

His solicitor Emma Thacker told the bench at the hearing on Friday that Moran had been sectioned since the incident and spent two weeks in a secure unit in Salisbury before moving to the acute inpatient unit in Swindon, Applewood where he would be detained for six months until a review.

“The mental health difficulties that Mr Moran suffers are quite significant. He is bi-polar,” she explained.

She told the court that Moran had been struggling with his mental health for a year and was having an episode when the incident happened.

Ms Thacker said her client’s problems did not mix well with alcohol.

“It was a very unfortunate set of circumstances,” she said.

And she added: “He has struggled with alcohol since the age of 16 but has been dry for the past five weeks as a result of being sectioned.”

He was taking medication, was stable and was working with the staff at the unit. “He reports that when he is fit and able and living on his own he wants a quiet life.”

The magistrates ordered Moran to pay £30 compensation for cleaning up the cell, a £40 fine and a £30 victim surcharge.