A MAN who was banned from drinking alcohol by the courts has breached the order by drinking on 14 different days.

On September 13, Anthony Stokes was sentenced for causing hundreds of pounds worth of damage to a new town centre venue, Doherty’s Irish Bar.

The business had been open for less than two weeks when it was vandalised by Stokes, of Helmsley Close, Bewsey, on March 14.

Stokes destroyed a coffee machine, bar stools and framing to the value of £1,300.

He pleaded guilty to criminal damage and was handed a 12-month community order.

As well as this, he was ordered to complete an 80-day alcohol abstinence and monitoring requirement.

This meant that he must abstain from drinking alcohol for this period.

However, the Probation Service said they were alerted to Stokes consuming alcohol on 14 separate days since the order was imposed on September 13.

Stokes appeared before Warrington Magistrates’ Court on Tuesday where he pleaded guilty to failing to comply with the alcohol abstinence and monitoring requirement.

The court heard how he consumed alcohol on September 26, and every day between October 6 and October 19.

But as this was the 33-year-old’s first breach of the order, the Probation Service asked the magistrates if it could be allowed to continue.

They also said he has demonstrated ‘high compliance’ with planned offered appointments.

Defending himself, Stokes said: “With the tag, when I received it, I just thought it worked here in the UK, and I do a lot of work abroad.

“I have not drank alcohol since and I can only apologise.”

Before concluding, the chair of the magistrates’ bench said: “It is good to hear that you now understand what the requirements are in full, so we are going to agree to let the order continue.”

Stokes was handed a £133 fine.