A DRUNK man battered on a stranger’s door and got into her bed after mistaking her house for his own.

Paul Taylor had sunk Guinness, champagne and tequila shots at a birthday party before trying to make his way back to his home in St Monance Way, Colchester.

But he began banging on a door nearby so ferociously that passersby were concerned and called 999.

The occupier of the house - a widowed elderly woman with mental health issues – answered the door to find out what was happening and Taylor barged his way in.

In his drunken state, he went to the bedroom and laid down on the bed.

Taylor had a head injury and ended up bleeding on the sheets.

Police arrived and arrested the 47-year-old.

During an interview he explained he had been out drinking, had never been to the address before and could not remember what had happened.

In a victim personal statement, the woman’s son said the incident in September had caused her “mental trauma”.

Taylor, who had no previous convictions, admitted criminal damage and common assault at Colchester Magistrates’ Court.

Evelyn Hicks, mitigating said: “He can only imagine he mistook her house for his.

“He has not targeted anybody and doesn’t know how he got the injury to his head.

“In the police station he asked to apologise, send flowers and pay for the damage to the door and wanted to explain he was not a burglar seeking to raid the home.

“The police told him to stay well away and explained he was not to have any contact with her.

“He is incredibly embarrassed, feels for this woman and would like to apologise.

“He wants her to know he did not target her at all.

“He has not drunk alcohol since this incident because of his behaviour.”

Magistrates handed Taylor 120 hours of unpaid work which will be completed in the next year and a restraining order banning him from contacting the victim for six months.

Taylor must also pay £121.48 to cover the woman’s insurance excess, £875 to the insurance company and £500 compensation to the victim herself for the stress caused.

He will also pay £85 costs and a £90 victim surcharge leaving a total bill of £1,671.48.