A homeless drunk who sleeps in Alderley Edge church vestry has spent a day in the cells after harassing shoppers in the village – appearing at the court for the 10th time this year.

Matthew Love, 49, sleeps in the porch of St Philip’s and St James’ Church in Alderley Edge and police say he pesters residents when he’s drunk.

The police have already applied to get him an anti-social behaviour order, Macclesfield magistrates heard.

Love was arrested at 11am on Saturday after ‘pestering pedestrians’ and refusing to leave the village centre in the morning.

He admitted being drunk and disorderly and failure to comply with a direction to leave notice when he appeared on Monday.

Debbie Byrne, prosecuting, said: "The local PCSO saw Mr Love drinking whiskey outside a cafe in Alderley Edge and he asked him to leave.

"Mr Love told him to **** off so he called for an officer to come and get him to leave the area."

PC Wadsworth issued him with a notice to leave and told him he would allow him 30 minutes to get out of the area – but he was still there 45 minutes later.

Miss Byrne added: "He was pestering pedestrians in the area and was arrested.

"PC Wadsworth said he smelt strongly of intoxicants and spoke in an overly loud voice even though he was stood right next to him."

John Temperley, defending, said Love has been an alcoholic for many years and was drunk at the time, adding: "Police have had a number of concerns regarding Mr Love’s presence in Alderley Edge.

"He sleeps in the vestry of the local church with the consent of the vicar there, but things are coming to a head as far as his residence in Alderley Edge is concerned."

The court was told a police application for an anti-social behaviour order against Love will be heard in court today (Thursday).

Chairman of the bench Colin Winder sentenced love to one day in the cells.

The Rev Jane Parry, at St Philip’s and St James’ Church said: "He has been staying in the north porch at the church since November.

"He likes Alderley Edge and had contacts with the area a long time ago and that is why he wanted to stay here.

"Matthew says he wants to get himself sorted out.

"We let him wash and scrub up in the parish rooms.

"We’ve chatted on a few occasions and he has a very sad tale to tell.

"It’s a difficult situation because a lot of people in the area do not want him hanging around and don’t want us to encourage him.

"Other people have taken it on themselves to bring him blankets and food.

"Most of the time he doesn’t cause any trouble but he has had his moments. It’s sad when someone ends up like this."