A DRUNK man accused police of stealing his keys after banging on doors in the early hours of the morning.

Joshua David Newbury admitted being drunk and disorderly when he appeared before magistrates in Hereford.

Police were called to reports of a man banging on the door and ringing the doorbell at Barrs Court Mews in Hereford's Barrs Cout Road at 2.40am on June 1, prosecutor Ralph Robyns Landricombe said.

Newbury had left when officers arrived, but returned after they left, banging and shouting on the door and shouting abuse.

Officers returned and asked Newbury, who they said was clearly drunk, to leave, to which the 29-year-old replied that he was trying to find his keys.

After a search by police failed to find his keys, Newbury was again told to leave and alleged that the officers had stolen his keys before walking away.

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But Newbury returned twice more, and was eventually arrested.

Speaking on his own behalf, Newbury said he had only just got a room and that somebody had taken his keys.

"I wanted to know where my keys were as I did not want to go homeless again," he said.

"I had been drinking with a few mates and a girl had taken my keys. I did not want to have to pay £50 to replace them."

Newbury, of The Commercial Hotel, Commercial Road, was fined £50. He must pay costs of £135 and a £95 victim surcharge.