A MAN who turned up for a court hearing apparently under the influence of alcohol has been remanded in custody to enable him to sober up over the weekend.

Ryan Piggford appeared to be worse the wear for drink when he was called into Court Two at Durham Crown Court yesterday (Friday June 24).

As the defendant was helped into the dock, up several stairs, Judge Ray Singh told him: “It’s patently obvious to me that you are drunk.

“You are stumbling into court, stumbling up the stairs.”

The judge said he had concerns over the defendant’s ability to follow and understand proceedings due to his condition and he was minded to remand him in custody over the weekend.

His counsel, Rebecca Brown, told the judge that her client is alcohol dependent.

“Whether he has understanding or not has not been properly assessed.

 “If he is remanded in custody he may become unwell.”

But Judge Singh told the defendant: “I’m afraid in your condition that you wouldn’t fully understand what’s happening to you.”

Despite the defendant’s protestations that he would be able to follow proceedings, Judge Singh told him: “I’m going to remand you in custody and you’ll be back here, on the link from the prison, on Monday.”

Read more: Drunk man damaged mother's garden furniture on Christmas Eve

The 39-year-old defendant, of Church Street, Ferryhill, is facing a plea hearing in a case of burglary, said to have been committed at a house in Chester-le-Street, in August last year, from where he was said to have taken £300 plus a tablet computer.

He is also to be sentenced on a charge of harassment of a woman, also said to have been committed last August.