A man charged with being drunk and incapable five times in a single week has been warned he is drinking himself to death.
Homeless Patrick McAvoy, 44, spent every night last week in Halifax police cells after being discovered each day collapsed in the street outside pubs or off licences.
Calderdale magistrates heard he has appeared before the courts for the same offe
nce nine times this month already.
In the last few years he has been found drunk and incapable on nearly 100 occasions.
He admitted being drunk and disorderly when he appeared at court on Friday.
Bill Astin, prosecuting, said each time McAvoy had been unable to stand or speak, although he was not violent,
He said: "Every time he is taken to the cells he has to have a one to one officer to watch him, and that is putting the public purse to great expense."
Mark Baxendale, for McAvoy, said: "This is a man who now seems intent on drinking himself to an early grave.
"He is harmless – the trouble is he's also legless most of the time."
He was released after being kept overnight in the cells. A waiting police officer was told "frogmarch this man to the housing association where he can get himself some help."
McAvoy gave the sentence a thumbs up.
The full article contains 231 words and appears in Evening Courier newspaper.
