AN alcoholic was today forced to shell out after being found drunk and disorderly in Ipswich.

AN alcoholic was today forced to shell out after being found drunk and disorderly in Ipswich.

Keith Adams, of Peterhouse Close, Ipswich, pleaded guilty to using disorderly behaviour and failing to surrender at South East Suffolk Magistrates' Court.

The court heard how police found Adams, 52, drunk on the corner of Heron Road and Sheldrake Road on August 16.

Gareth Davies, prosecuting, said Adams was trying to put a plastic bag over his head, and was walking out to the road, into oncoming traffic.

He said: “The officer said Adams was lying on the pavement and two care workers from the borough council were with him. He was paranoid and it was clear he was heavily intoxicated.

“He was aggressive when they tried to talk to him. He was so drunk, he could not even sit up.”

The court was told that despite efforts to calm him down, he was too drunk and was subsequently arrested.

Mr Davies added that Adams should have attended court last Friday but failed to appear and realised his error on Monday.

Adams, representing himself, said: “I cannot remember the original offence. I'm an alcoholic. I do have some help for it.

“I realised on the Friday that I should have been in court but I was in Felixstowe and told them I could not get back in time.”

Magistrates fined him £30, plus £15 victim surcharge and £65 costs.

Do you think this was an appropriate punishment? Write to Your Letters, Evening Star, 30 Lower Brook Street, Ipswich, IP4 1AN, or e-mail eveningstarletters@eveningstar.co.uk.