A MAN who assaulted two police officers after refusing to stop drinking in a town centre has been jailed for 24 weeks.

Paul Hickey, 55, was initially spoken to by PCSOs on May 17 because he was drinking alcohol in an alcohol-free area at Denton Gardens in Beach Parade, Worthing.

He refused to give up the alcohol and attempted to make off.

When police arrived to arrest him for public order offences and he then assaulted two officers. He was also found with cannabis during a search.

At Crawley Magistrates' Court on May 19, Hickey, unemployed and of no fixed address, was convicted of and pleaded guilty to two counts of assaulting an emergency worker, threatening behaviour, failing to comply with the PSPO, and possession of cannabis

The arrested came during Operation Mantle, which is the continuing police operation targeting street drinking and anti-social behaviour in Worthing town centre.

The Argus: He failed to give up the alcohol and attempted to make off. He failed to give up the alcohol and attempted to make off.

Officers conduct high visibility patrols, engage with members of the public, and seize alcohol from those in breach of the PSPO.

PC Shane Meech said; "We continue to patrol the town centre to address any issues of ASB or disorder, as we know a small minority of people can cause concern within the local community, which is unacceptable.

“We ask members of the public to keep reporting any ASB and disorder within the town to us either online or by calling 101.”