Merlot drunk faces crown court justice

Chesterfield magistrates’ court recently heard how Stephen James Cameron Stewart, 66, of Macclesfield Road, Buxton, was spotted by police sitting on a wall drinking the red wine.

Prosecuting solicitor Becky Allsop said: “Stewart was seen sitting on the wall with an open bottle of wine and a cup of wine beside him. He had slurred speech.”

Stewart made full admissions after the incident on April 21 and said he understood he would have appeared to be drunk.

The court heard how Stewart has committed 11 breaches of his anti-social behaviour order since it was imposed in June, 2014.

He pleaded guilty to being in possession of an opened bottle of wine and being drunk in public which he was prohibited from doing by an anti-social behaviour order.

Stewart also admitted committing this offence during a suspended custodial sentence which had been imposed for two previous breaches of his anti-social behaviour order.

Defence solicitor Saul Comish said Stewart had stayed away from alcohol for most of 2015 but started drinking again after he split up with his partner. District Judge Andrew Davison committed Stewart’s case to Derby Crown Court for sentencing on May 13 because previous matters had been dealt with there and because he had breached a suspended sentence.