Man raises hell - to get a police cell!

Nicholas Paul Holmes took drastic action outside Two Saints hostel in Newbury when West Berkshire Council refused to pay for his stay as a “wayfarer,” the court was told on Thursday, October 16.
Ben Amunwa, prosecuting, said: “This defendant was swearing and being aggressive to staff who had refused him entry because he was intoxicated. Police were called and he threatened to throw a metal bin through a window, so he was arrested.”
Mr Holmes admitted using threatening words or behaviour on September 30 this year.
He has numerous previous convictions, the court was told.
But Mike Davis, defending, said: “To be a wayfarer at the hostel requires permission from West Berkshire Council, because they fund it. “Permission wasn’t forthcoming, presumably because the council doesn’t consider alcoholism an illness. He only threatened to smash the window in order to get arrested and thus have a bed for the night. He is currently homeless and still trying to persuade the council to fund his hostel stay as a wayfarer.”
He added: “Meanwhile a vicar in Greenham is allowing him to sleep outside his church. He has a long standing drink problem and is currently trying to get back into an alcohol rehabilitation centre.”
Magistrates made Mr Holmes subject to a six month conditional discharge and ordered him to pay £15 costs plus a statutory surcharge of £15.