Man arrested after police called to ‘group gathering’ in Eastbourne

A police spokesman said officers were called to reports of people gathering and drinking in Seaside Recreation Ground, Eastbourne, around 6pm on Sunday (April 12).

Police said a 24-year-old man was arrested on suspicion of assaulting an emergency worker and being drunk and disorderly in a public place.

The incident happened on a four-day Easter weekend which saw Sussex Police issue more than 100 fines to people not following the government’s social distancing measures.

A spokesman for Sussex Police said the weekend led to an increase in reports of anti-social behaviour connected to Covid-19 and a few instances of officers, security guards, shop staff and other keyworkers being threatened.

Police said a man was due to appear in court on Monday (April 13) accused of licking products in a shop in Lewes Road, Brighton and putting them back on the shelf around 9pm on Saturday (April 11).

Simon Plante, 42, unemployed, of Oriental Place, Brighton, is charged with criminal damage, possession of a sharp pointed article in a public place and using threatening, abusive or insulting words to cause harassment, alarm or distress, police confirmed.