A YOUNG man set upon joining the Army scuppered his chances after drunkenly squaring up to officers in a police station.

Jack George, 22, had been out clubbing a week before he was due to join up, when he was taken by police officers to the station on suspicion of taking drugs.

But when officers found no drugs and he was told to leave the station, George stayed to argue with them and drunkenly squared up to officers.

Chairwoman of magistrates Diana Hurrell told him “you were a foolish young man on that day, if you want to join the Army you need to learn to follow orders”.

Brighton Magistrates Court heard George had returned from travelling and went out for his first Friday night back in Brighton.

Police officers were called to the Walkabout bar in West Street after staff asked George to leave as they were suspicious he was taking drugs.

Officers then detained him and took him back to John Street Police Station to strip search him under the Misuse of Drugs Act.

Roger Booth, prosecuting, said: “They had reason to think he may have drugs on him. But they made a search and did not find anything.

“He was told to leave, but officers said he was so drunk he could not stand up and complained about incoherent things, he also demanded being given a piece of paper about the search, which he did get.

“He still wasn’t happy and it came to a point where he squared up to one officer leaning into his face in an aggressive manner.

“They said ‘just go’ but he wouldn’t and at this point he was arrested for being drunk and disorderly.”

George was originally charged with the arcane and rare offence of “violent behaviour at a police station contrary to section 29 of the Town Police clauses Act 1847” after officers did not know whether a police station was classed as a public place.

Only at court was it determined a police station was a public place, allowing for the charge to be changed to drunk and disorderly.

Stephen Harris, defending, told the court the arrest stopped George joining the Army, which he was due to join a week later.

He said: “Before the court he had served significant sentences. He tried to put it behind him and made an application to the Armed Forces, but was told his sentences needed to be spent.

“He then went travelled and worked abroad funding himself for the last two years. He returned the week before he was due to join and went out on the first Friday night and got very drunk seeing old friends.

“Unfortunately his belligerence got too much for the officers who arrested him.

“He has been told the Army can’t make a decision till the case concludes. He is still hopeful he can join up.”

He had a previous conviction for assault occasioning actual bodily harm for which he received a suspended sentence in 2015.

George, of Tye View, Telscombe Cliffs, Peacehaven, pleaded guilty to being drunk and disorderly.

Mrs Hurrell said: “You have appeared to have made effort to get out of trouble and made plans for the future. Don’t get in this sort of trouble again. I suggest you don’t go on a bender, as you have seen what happens.”

He was given a conditional discharge for 12 months and made to pay £85 in costs and £20 victim surcharge.