A MAN who arrived at court drunk has been warned he faces jail as patience with him runs out.

John Taroni arrived at Worcester Crown Court yesterday after having a drink, admitting breaching a court order by failing to attend an appointment.

The 55-year-old failed to attend a probation service appointment on September 20 after he was given a community order for 10 months to include 10 rehabilitation activity requirement days and and an alcohol treatment requirement.

He accepted that, without reasonable excuse, he failed to comply with the requirements of the order by failing to report as instructed or provide evidence to cover his absence within five working days.

Michael Aspinall, defending, said: "This is a gentleman of 55 whose downfall has been drink and drugs. He has only recently started his alcohol treatment requirement and received a methadone prescription." Though he said his client led 'a chaotic life', Mr Aspinall said Taroni wished to carry on treatment.

Judge Jim Tindal said to the defendant: "You've had a drink today."

"Yes" answered the defendant from the dock.

Judge Tindal said: "What today shows is that you have a long way to go."

The judge told Taroni the probation service felt he had made 'a patchy start' to the order but that on other occasions he had engaged with them.

He said: "They're prepared to make some allowance for a rather wobbly start to the order but their patience will fairly quickly run out."

The judge said the order was there to provide him with structure, telling him: "You need to learn to manage things without having a drink."

The judge fined Taroni of Salters Lane, Redditch £100 and ordered him to pay £50 towards costs. He warned him: "If you can't complete the order you will have to go to prison - it's as simple as that."