A SWINDON father was so drunk when he picked his daughter up from school that he fell over in a nearby park and was found by police collapsed on the ground and covered in mud.

The 32-year-old man, who cannot be named for legal reasons, pleaded guilty before magistrates in Swindon to wilfully ill-treating or neglecting a child in a manner likely to cause unnecessary suffering or injury.

Prosecutor Pauline Lambert told the court the man had picked up his nine-year-old daughter from school on February 8 this year and taken her to a nearby park.

Other parents then reported to school staff that a man had collapsed close to the play park and was covered from head to toe in mud.

The staff called the police and found the man so intoxicated he could not provide his name or address. His speech was slurred and he had to be supported by police into a waiting police van, Miss Lambert said.

His daughter was taken back to the school by the staff upset and crying uncontrollably.

Later the father said he had been drinking lager and had taken diazepam. He said he did not usually mix the two.

He told police he felt gutted he had not fulfilled his role as a father.

Linda Holmes, defending, said the case was disturbing and very sad. The man had no previous history of arrests although he had quite a history of addiction and was on long-term medication for anxiety and depression.

She said he was appalled to be in court and understood that he should have been responsible for his daughter.

He offered no excuse for his behaviour. He had taken an overdose of tablets.

“Clearly there are issues and he accepts that,” Miss Holmes said.

The case was adjourned for social enquiry reports until 10am on March 24. He was released on unconditional bail.