A PERSISTENT drunk has been given a two-year ban from consuming alcohol in a public space.

Police applied for a Criminal Behaviour Order against Gerald Burton, 63, unemployed, of no fixed address, in a bid to curb his offending in Worthing.

According to police, he has been involved with antisocial behaviour and being drunk in a public place.

The application was granted by Worthing Magistrates’ Court on Wednesday, May 26 and started on May, 29.

The Argus: Gerald Burton was a persistent offender from Worthing Gerald Burton was a persistent offender from Worthing

It means he is banned from several activities, including being drunk in any public place in Sussex for two years.

The ban includes:

  • 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 any way 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 your possession, in a public place in Sussex, other than in a licensed premises
  • Calling emergency services or NHS Direct, for medical advice or aid or encouraging by your 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

Failing to comply with these provisions will lead to a further offence being committed which could result in imprisonment.

PCSO Ann-Marie Rushworth, of the Adur and Worthing Neighbourhood Policing Team, said: “We are delighted to have obtained this Criminal Behaviour Order for Gerald Burton.

“Burton has been causing antisocial behaviour for a long period of time in the West Sussex area and particularly in Worthing. Hopefully this order will prevent him from further offending and he will get the help he needs.”