A DRUNK man ended up in court after he flouted lockdown rules at the height of the pandemic and told officers 'I've got 'Covid!'

Karol Wachowiak of Lansdowne Road, Worcester, was drowning his sorrows because his dad was sick in Poland and the flight home had been cancelled.

The defendant refused a lift home from police when they tried to enforce the coronavirus curfew so they were left with no choice but to arrest him.

The 41-year-old admitted failing to comply with an instruction during the coronavirus emergency period on May 19 this year when he appeared before magistrates in Worcester on Thursday.

Officers had been enforcing section eight of the Health Protection (coronavirus restrictions) Regulations 2020.

Mark Hambling, prosecuting, said police were called to Holland Green in Worcester at around 9.30pm with officers arriving there at 10.50pm.

"An unknown male was lying on the grass outside two properties. The defendant does not live at those two properties or any of the addresses within that location and did not have or provide a reasonable excuse to be in that location" he said.

The officers, aware that the defendant was Polish and may not understand them established communication via a language line but Wachowiak 'refused to communicate on the phone'.

Mr Hambling said: "He was unsteady on his feet and smelled of alcohol and this indicated to officers he was drunk. He refused to give his details or his address.

"Officers further engaged with him and explained what the Covid regulations were and encouraged the defendant to go home. At one point they offered to take him home. He refused and, when they laid hands on him, he tensed his body."

Officers continued to explain to him he was in breach of the Covid regulations and he replied: "I don't care! I've got Covid and I'm very sick!"

The defendant, who represented himself, said he could not get back to Poland because his flight was cancelled.

"My dad at the time was in hospital. I could not go and see him. He got better now. I decided to get drunk. It wasn't the best idea.

"I had a lot of stress. Things are a lot better now. My dad is okay.

"I just want to say I'm sorry for my behaviour. I wasn't thinking straight because I was so drunk."

He told the court he had no children and lived in rented accommodation in Worcester. Although he earned £1,300 a month after tax he told magistrates he had 'quite a lot of debt', including £6,000 for his dad's operation and a £3,000 overdraft.

Magistrates fined him £120 and ordered him to pay £135 costs and a £34 victim surcharge. He offered to pay off the debt at £50 per month with the first payment due within 40 days.