A 'pathetic' homeless man has been fined £175 for breaching an ASBO after drinking dregs from revellers' discarded drinks to celebrate his 30th birthday.

Ian Churchill swore at a member of staff at Richmond Court in Boughton after being told to leave as he demanded to go inside to find his friend so he could get some drugs, Chester Magistrates Court heard.

The 30-year-old was described as a ‘pathetic figure’ by his defence solicitor, after celebrating his landmark birthday by walking around the city all day drinking left over booze discarded by punters enjoying a day out at Chester Races.

Just a few years ago Churchill lived with his partner and two children in a house in Blacon, but his life fell apart and he developed a chronic addiction to alcohol and ended up living on the streets, the court heard.

Chris Hunt said that his client “lived a pathetic existence” during the hearing in Court One on Friday (October 24).

He said: "If the way you celebrate your 30th birthday is by going round drinking the dregs from racegoers' drinks, that is rock bottom."

Churchill, who is partially sighted, pleaded guilty to breaching the terms of his ASBO which was put in place by the court on September 18 this year, after being convicted of begging in the city.

The conditions of the order, put in place for three years, included not being drunk and disorderly, or using foul, abusive, insulting and intimidating language in Chester.

At around 10pm on September 27 he was heard shouting and swearing in an 'aggressive manner' by residents living close to the homeless hostel.

He was arrested after being stopped from going into Richmond Court by a member of staff who he told he wanted to go inside to get drunks from a friend, before swearing at her.

Once in custody, officers asked Churchill about the terms of his ASBO, he said "something about a map and not to swear", said Rob Youds, prosecuting.

Churchill, who has 10 previous convictions, did not remember the incident but told officers he had been drinking racegoers drinks all day.

Magistrates fined Churchill a total of £175; £70 of which was for breaching the ASBO, the rest was made up of court costs.

He will pay £5 a week deducted from his benefits.