A DRUNKARD who caused a rumpus in front of Christmas diners at an Italian restaurant couldn't stand up unaided, a court was told.

Burnley Magistrates heard how Richard East, 39, could have frightened customers at Giorgios Pizzeria in Colne as he caused problems in the bar and struggled to stand up.

East, who had also ended up in the arms of the law 24 hours earlier when he caused trouble at a couple's home, told police: "I was arrested yesterday for the same thing."

East was given a curfew but his solicitor had told the court he would be driven to drink even more if he knew he could not go out.

The defendant, said to have been drinking since he was 14, admitted four counts of being drunk and disorderly, last November 3 and 8 and December 29 and 30 and also possessing cannabis. East, then of Colne, but now of Pine Street, Nelson, was given a four month curfew, between 6pm and 6am.

Andrew Robinson, prosecuting, said last November the defendant had been shouting and swearing after refusing to leave an address in Colne. He threatened to smack an officer when police arrived and five days later was verbally aggressive to officers.

In December, he was banging on the back door of a house in Colne, clearly upsetting the elderly residents.

Sue Robinson, defending, said after each of the four occasions, East had spent a long time in the cells sobering up.

He was an alcoholic and had not had help in the past. The defendant was on medication which seemed to be helping but he had never been to rehabilitation.