ENVIRONMENTAL enforcement officers are speaking to a man suspected to have defecated on a city centre wall.
Brighton and Hove City Council received the man’s details after the incident in Frederick Gardens, Brighton, was captured on film last Tuesday.
An apology was later daubed on the wall in brown pen.
A council spokesman said: “We have received details of someone we would like to speak to about this incident and our investigation is ongoing.
“We are aware that there are certain debilitating medical conditions such as Crohn’s disease and colitis that can underpin instances such as this.
“We very much want to make sure we are not discriminating against people suffering from what are sometimes known as invisible disabilities.
“But we would always look to take appropriate enforcement action against clear cases of antisocial behaviour.”
Spitting, urinating or defecating in public are all punishable by a £75 on-the-spot fine.
The council expanded its fining scheme, which was previously reserved for litter-bugs, graffiti and dog mess, last year.
In the video, filmed at about 7am, the man, wearing a purple shirt and a
beige hat, walks along the pavement in front of a row of houses.
He then puts a can down on the floor before dropping his trousers.
The act was carried out opposite people’s homes.
Resident Chris Hayes reported the incident to the council’s cleaning department at 11am that day.
However, he said, it was not cleaned up until later that week.
Graffiti saying “the s*****r was not homeless” appeared on the wall in Frederick Gardens on Monday night.
It adds: “Sorry though.”
Some Argus readers have suggested that the incident may have been linked to Crohn’s disease, which is a debilitating and inflammatory bowel disease.
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