A FIFTY-two-year-old Carlisle man has been fined £100 for being drunk and disorderly at Carlisle's Train Station.

At the city's Rickergate court, Paul Ford, now of Milbourne Street, Carlisle, said he refused to leave the station's waiting room just before 1am on August 8 because he was homeless.

At the time, he was lain on a bench and simply refused to leave when asked to by the station manager and then by police. "He offered violence towards the officers," said prosecutor George Shelley.

In court, the defendant told magistrates: "I just needed to be warm." He added that being arrested that night had actually improved his situation as he had a warm cell to sleep in. 

The Train Station had been the first available shelter he found, he said.

He agreed that he was verbally abusive because he wanted to be arrested. Judge John Temperley fined him £100, with £85 costs and a £34 victim surcharge.