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Drunk Newbury man breaches ASBO for twentieth time




"I'm not proud of myself", he tells magistrates

A NEWBURY man who breached his ASBO for the twentieth time by getting drunk told magistrates: “I’m not proud of myself.”

The court heard how Brian Hanton’s “eyes were glazed” and he “smelt of liquour” when he was approached by police in Pound Lane, Speen, two days before Christmas last year.

In doing so, the 55-year-old was yet again in breach of an anti-social behaviour order issued to him in November 2013.

Jennifer Riddell, prosecuting, said Mr Hanton had a “lengthy record”.

Mike Davis, defending, said: “He was very, very drunk.

“He did not know why he was in Speen. He doesn’t know anyone there and had no reason to be there.

“There was a bit of an anti-social behaviour problem in Newbury at the time Mr Hanton’s order was issued and there was a big push by the police to deal with the issue.

“One of the things was to issue an anti-social behaviour order for a number of people, including Mr Hanton.

“Most of them have either moved away or changed, but he has not.

“He is an alcoholic with a long-term massive drink problem. Most of these breaches are simply where he is drunk or carrying a can of beer in the street.

“Had it not been for the ASBO police probably would have just taken him home.”

Mr Davis asked magistrates to consider “fine tuning” the ASBO so Mr Hanton would only get in trouble if he was drunk and causing a nuisance rather than just simply being drunk.

He said that otherwise, “there would probably be another five breaches by the end of February”.

Magistrates agreed to alter the terms of the ASBO, but made Mr Hanton pay a £20 statutory surcharge for the recent breach.

When leaving the dock, Mr Hanton told magistrates: “I’m not proud of myself. I am trying to get rehab, I am really trying.”

Magistrate Anne Brown replied: “I know and that is good. We have seen you enough times here.”



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