A DRUNKEN man got out of his car wielding an axe after crashing into a fence.

After receiving a number of calls from the public, police found a registration plate from Tony Bateman's damaged Peugeot at the scene and traced him to his home 100 metres away.

At Bolton Crown Court 35-year-old Bateman was sentenced to 34 weeks in prison, suspended for two years and he will be monitored for alcohol abstinence.

Kimberley Obrusik, prosecuting, told how police were first alerted at 10.40pm on May 23 after four heavily intoxicated men were refused entry to the Toll Bar pub in Horwich and drove off in a Peugeot.

"There were reports that they attempted to gain entry to yet another public house in the area and whilst police made their way to that address there was a report of a collision with a fence on Victoria Road," said Miss Obrusik.

Police then received more calls saying a man was shouting and running around the street with an axe before leaving it at a bus stop.

Officers found the long-handled axe, which Bateman later claimed he had used to chop wood for his fire, and discovered his car, with a damaged bumper, by his Victoria Road home.

"The defendant answered the door. He was described by police as being unsteady on his feet. His speech was slurred and he was intoxicated to such an extent that he was unable to string a sentence together," said Miss Obrusik.

Bateman was arrested but refused to provide a breath specimen and police discovered he only had a provisional driving licence.

He later pleaded guilty to failing to provide a specimen, driving without an appropriate licence, failing to stop after an accident, having no insurance and possessing a knife.

The court heard that Bateman has several previous convictions for driving offences and being drunk and disorderly and, 10 years ago, served a prison sentence for causing grievous bodily harm.

Nicholas Ross said: "Most of his offending has been drink-related and it has been a problem since he was 15-years-old."

Bateman wiped away tears as Mr Ross added that he is now motivated and seeking help to address his alcoholism.

The Honorary Recorder of Bolton, Judge Martin Walsh, stated that the public will be best served by the probation service working with Bateman to deal with his problems.

He ordered him to be subject to alcohol abstinence monitoring for 90 days and to undertake 40 days of rehabilitation activities.

Bateman was also banned from driving for three years.