A DRUNK man tried to get a free curry after a drunken new year, but ended up having to pay up more than £300.

Lying Jerome Anicet ordered food and drinks from a curry house then tried to leave without paying.

Anicet, 32, visited the Ocean Spice restaurant in Hastings in the early hours of New Year’s Day and ordered £34 of food and booze, before running off.

Anicet, of Radnor House, Haywards Heath, was caught and also arrested for being drunk and disorderly.

Appearing at Brighton Magistrates’ Court on Friday, Anicet admitted being drunk and disorderly and fraud - namely obtaining services dishonestly.

Anicet was sentenced to a two year conditional discharge for being drunk and disordely.

He was fined £165 for the fraud, ordered to pay compensation to the restaurant as well as court costs bringing the full amount he has to pay to £314.15