A DRUNKARD twice found lying on the ground walked from court unpunished, after magistrates said they had little choice.

Burnley magistrates were told how Peter Hadden, 40, was a chronic alcoholic and had been in the same situation for so long he would never get out of it.

Hadden, now living at the Hendley Hotel, Colne, admitted two counts of being found drunk, on February 12 and 13.

He was given an absolute discharge by the bench who did not impose a costs order. They told him his lifestyle left them no option.

The justices told the defendant he was a danger to himself while drunk and it might help him if he realised that when sober.

Andy Robinson, prosecuting, said at 11pm, Hadden was found lying on the ground in Burnley bus station.

He was hanging on to a bag of two cans of lager and police could not get any coherent reply from him when they asked him to go home. The day after, he was found lying in Hebrew Road.

John Greenwood, defending, said Hadden had been a chronic alcoholic for more than 20 years and had many convictions for being drunk and disorderly.

He was now living at the hotel after children vanadalised his home, making it no longer habitable.

He was a young man, but perhaps did not look like it because of the circumstances in which he lived.