Drunk Barnstaple man found sleeping in road stopped for a 'quick 40 winks'

A DRUNK man who fell asleep in a road on his way home told a court he had just stopped for a quick 40 winks.

Phillip Jones, 65, who lives on a house boat at the rear of Barnstaple Rugby Club, was found by police asleep on a footpath at Castle Fort in Barnstaple.

The officers woke him up and helped him to a nearby bench.

However, 30 minutes later the police were told Jones was asleep in the road on Northwalk, just metres away from the police station.

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Jones appeared at North Devon Magistrates’ Court on Friday where he pleaded guilty to being drunk and incapable in public.

The court heard Jones was a recovering alcoholic who was receiving help from Addaction and the Freedom Church.

Jones said: “I wasn’t far from where I was going, I just stopped for a quick 40 winks.

“I’ve been trying really hard with my drinking and generally I’m doing well, I’d just had a bad day.”

Jones was given a six month conditional discharge and ordered to pay a £15 victim surcharge.