A DRUNK cyclist was stopped by police after he swerved all over a Worcester main road before becoming ‘argumentative’ with officers.

Royce Hasbury, 68, was stopped by police who saw him swerving across all three lanes of New Road and wobbling about on his bike in Bransford Road, St John’s.

His cycling was considered so bad that officers told him to chain up his push bike and 'walk home'.

The pensioner of Newland Crescent, Rushwick, admitted riding a pedal cycle while under the influence of drink when he appeared before magistrates in Worcester on Monday.

Hasbury was stopped on March 6 this year at around 1.20am on the grounds that he was incapable of controlling the bike. When he got off his bike, he struggled to stand up, the court heard.

Jim Mason, prosecuting, said officers first noticed Hasbury in New Road, Worcester travelling in the direction of St John’s.

He said: “They say he was in the road and he was swerving across three lanes. He appeared unsteady and oblivious to other road users. They caused him to stop.

“He was unsteady on his feet, his speech was slurred and he smelled of intoxicants. He admitted to being drunk and he was a little argumentative. He was advised to leave his pedal cycle locked and secure and walk home.”

Hasbury, who represented himself, said: “Well, I had had a drink. I was riding my push bike. I’m really sorry.”

He said what had happened had been ‘pretty awful for me’ and added: “I have lost sleep over it and all sorts. I’m pretty well ashamed of it. I haven’t really told most of my family. That’s all I can say really.”

The chairman of the magistrates bench commented that Hasbury also had a conviction for driving with excess alcohol but he replied that that was '20 odd years ago’.

The defendant added: “I have learned my lesson that time. I have never done it since.”

Hasbury said of his cycling, as described by the prosecution: “I didn’t really know it was as bad as what that statement said. I personally at the time thought it was okay.”

Hasbury, a former pub landlord at the Coach and Horses, The Oak Apple and what was the Sebright Arms, was given credit for his early guilty plea and was ordered to pay an £80 fine, reduced from £120 because he admitted the offence. He was also ordered to pay court costs of £135 and a victim surcharge of £32.

Hasbury offered to pay the full amount within 28 days.