A loyalist who made a 999 call to threaten Northern Ireland First Minister Peter Robinson had been on a drinking spree, a court has heard.

Darren Scott, 34, from Croft Court in east Belfast, had consumed 12 pints of cider and a number of bottles of an alcopop when he made the telephone call to the emergency services.

The unemployed father-of-four was remanded in custody after appearing at Newtownards Magistrates' Court yesterday.

He was charged with threatening to kill Mr Robinson and improper use of an electronic communications network.

Scott was arrested at his home after spelling out his full name and address for the 999 call handlers. He was remanded in custody and will appear in court in Belfast via videolink on January 8.