Barrington Harris had breached previous noise abatement notices

Magistrates remanded Barrington Harris, 47, of Flint, in custody after he denied breaching an anti-social behaviour order (Asbo).

He said he had been comforting himself by playing his acoustic guitar before he fell asleep on Wednesday.

Flintshire magistrates adjourned the case until next Wednesday.

Prosecutor Wyn Jones told the court that complaints had been made about Mr Harris' singing and guitar-playing since 1999.

Flintshire council has served him with noise abatement notices but these have been breached.

Mr Harris was then made the subject of an Asbo with a condition that he not play loud music between 2300 BST and 0900 BST that disturbed his immediate neighbours, the court heard.

Arrest

Neighbours called the council's environmental health department on Wednesday after hearing loud music, the court was told.

A health official and police had heard singing and guitar music, and had made a recording before Mr Harris was arrested.

Mr Wyn applied to the court for Mr Harris to be remanded in custody, saying he believed he would breach the order if released on bail.

Defending, Brian Cross urged the magistrates to bail his client as he did not have another address to go to and would abide by strict bail conditions

He said Mr Harris would agree not to play his guitar or sing at home at all, and knew a field where he could go.

The court heard that is was important that Mr Harris was bailed because his father had recently died and he needed to attend his mother's funeral on Friday.