MAKING his way home having been drinking a man has disputed being disorderly, despite the racket he was making on a residential street leading to a grandmother hollering out of a window that he had woken up her grandchild.

Thirty-year-old Ross McCulloch of Ramsbury Avenue pleaded guilty to the charge of being drunk on Albion Street on June 27, but told the bench he disputed being disorderly, and was in fact in a vulnerable state and in need of a lift home from police.

The magistrates heard from crown prosecutor Pauline Lambert that police had been called to the Street at around 11.15pm amid reports that McCulloch was on the street "crashing and banging about" and trying to fight with people.

"He was unsteady on his feet, he smelt of alcohol and he had glazed eyes," she said. "He continued to shout and swear and wouldn't provide simple details such as his name or address, and he refused to moderate his behaviour."

A woman then appeared at a window nearby shouting that he had woken up her grandson. "He then turned his attention towards her, shouting and swearing and generally being abusive," Ms Lambert added.

As officers attempted to lead him away he continued to be abusive towards them and shouted at them that he paid his taxes. When he was loaded into the back of the van he continued shouting and swearing and began banging his head against the cage as well as spitting.

Representing himself in the dock, McCulloch said he did not accept that he was disorderly. He said: "Yeah I was drunk but I d finitely wasn't being abusive. The officers turned up and I was drunk, I was vulnerable. I know the police is not a taxi service and I apologise for this but I asked the officer if he could take me home.

"Then all I know is that I was handcuffed and taken to the police station. I was not abusive. I wanted to go home because I was completely drunk and I was actually vulnerable.

"I'm going to go guilty but I know for a fact that I wasn't being abusive. Miss, to be fair I didn't do anything wrong."

He further told the bench that he had booked himself in for alcohol treatment and spoke to the Citizens Advice Bureau about financial concerns. "I am seeking help now because I know I have a problem," he said. "This is the last time Miss. I have got to buck up my ideas."

Chairman of the bench Lady Maria Pitt fined him £40 and ordered he pay a £30 victim surcharge.