AN ALCOHOLIC was found wandering around dressed in carrier bags and covering himself with a cushion, a court heard.South-East Suffolk Magistrates Court heard Steven Washington had broken into a garden shed, discarded his clothes and stolen a cushion.

AN ALCOHOLIC was found wandering around dressed in carrier bags and covering himself with a cushion, a court heard.

South-East Suffolk Magistrates' Court heard Steven Washington had broken into a garden shed, discarded his clothes and stolen a cushion.

Washington, 35, of Ranelagh Road, Ipswich, was later seen by a policeman walking down the street covering himself with the cushion.

Representing himself in court, Washington admitted the theft of the cushion.

He told magistrates he had only a limited memory of the events, but presumed he stole the cushion to preserve his modesty.

He said: "I'm very sorry for any distress, but really it's apparent I'm no burglar.

"I probably took the cushion for modesty."

Gareth Davies, prosecuting, described the case as "bizarre".

He told magistrates an elderly resident of Ashcroft Road, Ipswich woke early on July 13 to find a garden shed window smashed.

On closer investigation, he discovered blood spattered inside the shed and a set of men's clothes.

Mr Davies said the man and his next-door-neighbour, whose garden had been showered with much of the broken glass, had both been left distressed by the discovery.

Battle

He said earlier that morning Washington had been arrested nearby when a policeman spotted him stumbling around, almost completely naked.

Police later discovered the discarded clothes were Washington's and charged him with theft.

Washington told magistrates he was battling against "binge alcoholism" and would try to avoid any similar incidents in the future.

Magistrates fined Washington £50.