Man found laying drunk on the floor in Worthing is jailed

Gerald Burton, 64, of The Mainline Rooms, Whyke Road, Chichester, appeared at Crawley Magistrates’ Court on Thursday, January 6, and admitted a number of offences related to alcohol.

He was jailed for a total of nine months. Magistrates said the offences were serious enough to warrant a prison sentence due to Burton’s record of previous offending and because further offences were committed during the operational period of a suspended sentence.

Sussex Police said after the case that paramedics had responded to a report of Burton having fallen over while intoxicated in Montague Street, Worthing, on January 5. Police said Burton was abusive to those trying to help him and he was subsequently arrested for being in breach of his criminal behaviour order.

He was remanded in custody and the following day, he was sentenced at Crawley Magistrates’ Court.

Burton was jailed for six months after admitting consuming alcohol in a public place, being drunk in a public place and behaving in a way likely to cause harassment, alarm or distress, in Richmond Road, Worthing, on December 6, 2021, breaching a criminal behaviour order made by Brighton Magistrates’ Court on May 26, 2021.

He was jailed for three months to run consecutively after admitting being drunk at Lancing Railway Station on December 12, 2021, breaching a criminal behaviour order.

He was given two three-month prison sentences to run concurrently after admitting laying on a public footpath in a state of drunkenness and behaving in a way likely to cause harassment, alarm or distress, in Marine Parade, Worthing, on January 5, 2022, breaching a criminal behaviour order; and being intoxicated while laying on the floor in Chapel Road, Worthing, on December 19, 2021, breaching a criminal behaviour order.

He was jailed for two weeks to run concurrently after admitting failing to comply with supervision requirements following release from prison.

He admitted breaching a suspended sentence order and was dealt with for the original offence, with the suspended 18-week prison sentence for being drunk in a public place and possessing an open container of alcohol in Selden Road, Worthing, on October 22, 2021, breaching a criminal behaviour order, being implemented to run concurrently.

Burton’s guilty pleas were taken into account when imposing sentence and no order was made for costs as magistrates’ said it was not appropriate in the circumstances.

To find out more about the two-year criminal behaviour order imposed on Burton, CLICK HERE

After it was imposed last May, the Adur and Worthing Neighbourhood Policing Team said Burton had been causing antisocial behaviour for a long period of time in West Sussex and particularly in Worthing. They hoped the order would prevent him from further offending and mean would get the help he needed.

PCSO Ann-Marie Rushworth, from 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.”

Burton was warned that failure to comply with the requirements if the order could result in imprisonment. The order prohibited Burton 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 footpath 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 his 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 his 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.