A FOOTBALL fan arrested for being drunk when he fell asleep at a match said he was overwhelmed last night after winning an appeal against his conviction.

Lifelong Middlesbrough fan Adrian Carr said it was like beating the Geordies to win the league when a judge ruled the case should never have been brought to court.

The 28-year-old engineering machinist was given a two-year conditional discharge by magistrates after he drank six pints and fell asleep during the Middlesbrough against Arsenal match at the Cellnet Riverside Stadium on August 24.

He was locked up for five hours and charged with being drunk in a sports ground after a steward found the season ticket holder slumped in his seat.

Judge Michael Taylor, a self-confessed Boro supporter, told Teesside Crown Court yesterday: "It is the right of any Englishman at a football match to fall asleep if he wishes, particularly if he is watching Arsenal."

Outside the court, engineering machinist Mr Carr said: "I am totally overwhelmed by it.

"It has taken its time but we got there in the end.

"It has been a complete waste of taxpayers' money. It is an absolute disgrace.

"Middlesbrough Football Club has seen common sense. It is a pity it has taken the law this long to see sense."

Mr Carr, of Caithness Road, Middlesbrough had his £370 season ticket confiscated by Boro chiefs and was banned from away games but the club later reversed its decision.

At yesterday's hearing the court was shown video evidence of the football supporter at the stadium and in the custody suite at Middlesbrough police station.

Witnesses including stewards and police officers claimed Mr Carr smelt of alcohol, was unsteady on his feet and had glazed eyes.

One steward claimed the Middlesbrough fan was paralytic drunk but the judge said a video showed Mr Carr was coherent, able to walk unaided and helpful when questioned by police.

Judge Taylor said: "This is a prosecution that should never have been brought. After being handcuffed he walks in a perfectly straight-forward manner.

"When he is taken to the police station he is perfectly coherent.

"The question is was this man drunk, we would give a resounding answer of 'no'."

Mr Carr's solicitor Simon Walker said they would be considering whether to sue for wrongful arrest.