A 24-YEAR-OLD man arrested for being drunk and disorderly in a launderette had drunk a bottle of white spirit, a court was told.

Kevin Preston, defending, told Blackburn magistrates that Jason Lee Howard's addiction to alcohol was so severe that he had been known to drink after shave to satisfy his craving.

Howard, of Addison Close, Blackburn, pleaded guilty to being drunk and disorderly in Bank Top and failing to answer bail.

He was fined £50, which was treated as paid because of the time he had spent in custody.

Mr Preston said Howard had failed to turn up at court because he was in hospital.