Bored footie fan Adrian Carr was locked up by cops when he nodded off as his side were hammered by Arsenal.

Dozy factory worker Adrian had to be ascorted from Middlesbrough's Riverside Stadium when worried stewards found him slumped in his seat "paraletic".

He was then charged with being drunk inside the ground, his #400 season ticket was confiscated and he was locked in a police cell.

Today, Adrian, 28, of Caithness Road, Middlesbrough, Teesside, denied one charge of being drunk in a desiganated sports ground - legislation brought in in 1985 following the Bradford Fire disaster making it an offence to be drunk in a ground during a game.

Magistrates at his trial in Middlesbrough heard how engineering machinist Adrian had gone to watch his team take on Arsenal in the opneing game of the season on Sunday, August 24 last year.

But about 15 minutes into the second half a fan in a nearby seat complained that Adrian was psed in his seat.

Stewards moved in and the court was told that they spent minutes trying to wake him without success.

Eventually staff and first aiders helped the slumbering supporter to his feet and escorted him out of the North Stand.

Assistant Supervising steward Alan Brown said: "I saw a gentleman in his seat who was in an unconscious state.

"I shook him repeatedly, spoke to him in his ear three or four times and asked him his name and if he knew where he was.

"I formed the opinion he was was drunk. He seemed paraletic, inacapable of standing up or speeking."

He said he and another steward grabbed Adrian by the arms and carried him from his seat as he "staggered, mumbling and groaning".

Clare Donaldson, prosecuting, said there was no suggestion the defendant had been threatening or abusive in any way.

She said: "The Crown is not saying he was drunk and disorderly. It is simply an offence of being drunk in a desiganted sporting ground.

"The defendant was in an unconscious state and he was unable to control his limbs properly.

"He was in such a condition where he could have been a risk to himself or others in the ground and that is why he was removed."

Simon Walker, for Adrian Carr, said the football fan was not "paraletic" and video footage from the ground and at the custody suite at Middlesbrough Police Station showed Adrian walking unassisted and talking with police officers.

He said: "I don't think someone could be paraletic drunk and then sober up within five minutes."

Middlesbrough eventually lost the match 4-0 and Adrian has been banned from attending Boro matches until the outcome of his trial. The trial continues.