Drunk who enters homes uninvited given an ASBO

Burnley Crown Court heard how Carol Ashworth, 43, who had never flouted the law until alcohol took its hold, was said to have repeatedly entered homes in Haslingden asking for money and police had been called when she had been found drunk.

The two year criminal ASBO was made after the defendant was found in a couple's home clutching drink she had pinched.

Police later went to her house and found her slumped on the floor drunk with a now empty bottle of wine she had taken from the house.

Ashworth, of Rudd Street, Haslingden, admitted burglary. She was given an eight month jail term, suspended for two years, with supervision and a six month , seven days a week curfew between 8pm and 6am.

Under the ASBO she is banned from being drunk in public in Haslingden and is not allowed to enter any house in the town without permission.

Silvia Dacre, prosecuting, told the court at 6pm last November 14, Rachel McNulty was upstairs at her home on Sunnybank Street. She heard a noise downstairs, assumed it was her partner and when she called out and there was no reply, thought he was messing about.

She went downstairs and saw Ashworth at the foot of the stairs.

The defendant was holding a bottle of red wine, a bottle of lager, and half a bottle of white wine, walked into the lounge and appeared to be looking rather vacant.

Miss Dacre said Miss McNulty pushed the defendant out of her house, police were called and because of previous incidents involving Ashworth, suspected it was her and went to her house.

The defendant was discovered there slumped on the floor drunk, holding the now-empty bottle of white wine she had stolen.

The prosecutor said Ashworth was questioned and told police she was unable to remember what she had been doing because she had been drinking for a week.

Miss Dacre said the CRASB0 was being applied for after a number of allegations against the defendant, including the burglary.