AN EDEN Valley man arrested for being drunk and disorderly on a Penrith street told a court he was angry because a youth had punched him in the face.

Ashley Fry, 35, was arrested on April 29, in Middlegate, Penrith, after police saw him swinging punches towards a youth who told him they had just shouted across the street that he had simply been “play fighting.”

The defendant was heard threatening the youths but concerned police officers, noticing that Fry was slurring his speech and clearly drunk, arrested him.

In court, Fry, of Blencowe, told magistrates: “I could have dealt with the situation. I was punched in the face outside a shop by this young lad and I was a bit embarrassed.”

He admitted saying “silly things” but questioned why police did not seize CCTV cameras to check out his story. He said the youths – aged 16 or 17 – were smoking cannabis and intimidating people.

He added: “But I was pretty intoxicated and upset with this lad. I was on my way home. I’ve tried to address my drinking problem but I can’t do it on my own.

“I genuinely want my life to be better.”

Magistrates fined the defendant £40, with £85 costs and a £34 victim surcharge. They warned Fry that if he continued to behave in that way his offending would be seen to have escalated and he could end up in prison.

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