Street drinker jailed for year after Asbo breaches

Raymond Arnold, 53, of London Road, St Leonards, was handed the prison sentence by Hastings magistrates at a court hearing on Friday.

He pleaded guilty to five charges of breaching his ASBO and was jailed for 52 weeks.

Arnold's ASBO banned him from engaging in conduct likely to cause nuisance, alarm, distress or harassment and being under the influence of alcohol in a public place in Hastings or Rother.

On June 15 police found Arnold in London Road, St Leonards, drunk and slumped against railings.

He was taken home but the next day he was found again in the same street, this time drinking from an open can.

Arnold became abusive to police officers, threatening to kick them.

On June 19, Arnold was again found by officers in London Road, drunk at the Costcutter shop, and swearing at passers-by.

He was found drunk and lying on the ground on July 12, again in London Road, by a Police Community Support Officer (PCSO).

Just over a week later (July 21) Arnold was seen at the council's housing offices in London Road with his trousers around his ankles.

Council leader Jeremy Birch said: "I am pleased that a strong message is being sent. We will not tolerate public drunkenness or aggressive behaviour in our town."

District commander, chief inspector Mark Ling, said: "I am very pleased that the courts have imposed a custodial sentence in this case.

"Raymond Arnold has been notorious in the area of central St Leonards and other parts of Hastings because of his drunken, anti-social behaviour.

"I hope this sends out a strong message to others that we will continue to robustly target those people who behave in this way causing upset to residents and businesses."

Sergeant Natalie Brill, neighbourhood police officer for central St Leonards, said: "Although street drinking appears to be a neighbourhood problem it actually impacts on a large area of the town.

"Proactive policing and a robust approach to anti-social behaviour, caused by street drinking, has been carried out during the summer initiative Operation Chiltern.

"We will continue to work with partner agencies such as the council to combat this behaviour."