A PENSIONER banned from being drunk in a public place has been fined after falling off the wagon.

Sandra Dobson, 60, of Whalley Road, Great Harwood, was given the ban last year as part of an Anti-Social Behaviour Order aimed at controlling her drunken offending.

She was fined £100 by Blackburn magistrates after the court heard she had been seen drinking red wine in the Buffet City Chinese restaurant, in Blackburn.

A member of staff also saw her drinking from a bottle of whisky in her bag. And by the time she was told to leave, she was too drunk to tell the taxi driver where she lived. Dobson pleaded guilty to breaching her ASBO.

Judith Balderson, prosecuting, said that after entering the restaurant, Dobson only ate a small amount of food, but ordered five glasses of red wine.

She said: "She fell asleep several times and then asked for another glass of wine, but was refused. The police were called after a taxi driver was unable to establish where she wanted to go.

"She was that drunk she continued to fall asleep even as the officer was talking to her."

Graham Parkinson, defending, said: "She tells me she was doing very well and managed to stay alcohol free for over 15 months."

The ASBO was made in January 2005 after Dobson was convicted of three offences of being drunk and disorderly.

The order prevents Dobson from entering off-licences in Hyndburn, the Ribble Valley and Blackburn.

She is also prohibited from entering bars in the Pub Watch scheme.

She is also prohibited from remaining on premises when required to leave, being found in a drunken state where the public have access, or on any highway.

The order also prohibits her from begging for cash, or services.