Persistent Worthing Offender Jailed For Being Drunk In Street

Friday, 4 February 2022 06:31

A 64-year-old man from Worthing has been jailed after being found intoxicated in Montague Street - thus breaching his Criminal Behaviour Order (CBO).

Gerald Burton, of no fixed address, was given the order in May after persistent offending including antisocial behaviour and being drunk in public.

It prohibited him from the following for a period of 24 months:

Consuming alcohol in a public place other than licensed premises
Being drunk or in a state of drunkenness in any public place in Sussex
Behaving in anyway causing or likely to cause harassment, alarm or distress to any person
Laying on a public foot path or highway in Sussex (that is sitting or laying on a pavement or road not on a seat or bench)
Having an open container of alcohol in your possession, in a public place in Sussex, other than in a licenced premises
Calling emergency services or NHS Direct, for medical advice or aid or encouraging by your actions or words, anyone else to do so on your behalf, including staff at NHS Direct, save when in genuine need of emergency services requiring immediate assessment, action or treatment.

Burton was warned that failure to comply with these requirements could result in imprisonment.

But on January 5th, members of the public found Burton on the pavement, intoxicated and refusing help, abusing anyone who tried to assist.

Paramedics arrived as did police, who arrested him for being in breach of his CBO.

He was remanded in custody and the following day, he was sentenced to nine months’ imprisonment.

PCSO Ann-Marie Rushworth, of the Adur and Worthing Neighbourhood Policing Team, said:

“Police apply to magistrates for Criminal Behaviour Orders only in exceptional circumstances, where individuals present a danger or a nuisance to the public.

“These CBOs are designed not only to protect the local community from harm, but also the individuals themselves.

“Unfortunately, Burton failed to comply with the conditions with his order and will now spend several months behind bars.”