Dean Burgess, who denies drinking in public, told Senior Magistrate the Wor.

Will Francis that he missed his trial because his bail sheet got wet. Burgess, 31, appeared in Magistrates' Court yesterday after a warrant was issued for his arrest. He said the writing on the paper was illegible after it was soaked by rain.

"I wasn't trying to avoid anything,'' he said. "I can't stop the rain from falling.'' The Senior Magistrate reset bail at $300 and issued a new trial date for next month.