A BOOZY night cost a man almost £200 after he refused to go home quietly. Joseph Dent, 21, of Semington Road, Melksham, had been drinking in Bradford on October 1 before causing trouble in a takeaway.

Michelle Hewitt, prosecuting, said police were called to China Town in the early hours. Dent was unsteady on his feet and swearing.

She said: "After 45 minutes police returned to Silver Street and saw the defendant shouting at a group of lads. The defendant continued to shout and swear at the group and asked the police for a lift home."

Dent started to walk away, but was arrested after swearing at police. He had already been fined for two other drunken episodes in April.

Roger Stanbury, defending, said: "He hadn't really thought about how he was going to get home. Because of his record I've asked him if he has a drink problem. He needs to curb his drinking. He's been a student, but stopped because of depression."

Dent admitted the public order offence when he appeared before Chippenham magistrates on Thursday where he was fined £150 and ordered to pay £43 costs.

The chairman of the bench, Sue Griffin, told Dent: "It's not just that you drink, it's the way you behave when you've been drinking that is the trouble."