A 64-YEAR-OLD man who abused paramedics has been jailed for breaching a court order banning him from being drunk in public.

Gerald Burton a broke criminal behaviour order (CBO) which he was given for persistent offending including antisocial behaviour.

He fell over while intoxicated in Montague Street, Worthing, and was abusive to paramedics who came to help.

Burton, of no fixed address, was arrested for being in breach of his order. He has now been jailed for nine months.

PCSO Ann-Marie Rushworth, of the Adur and Worthing neighbourhood policing team, said: “Police apply to magistrates for criminal behaviour orders only in exceptional circumstances, where individuals present a danger or a nuisance to the public.

“These CBOs are designed not only to protect the local community from harm, but also the individuals themselves.

“Unfortunately, Burton failed to comply with the conditions with his order and will now spend several months behind bars.”

Burton was given the order in May.

It prohibited him from the following for a period of 24 months:

  • 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 anyway causing or likely to cause harassment, alarm or distress to any person
  • Laying on a public foot path 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

Burton was warned that failure to comply with these requirements could result in imprisonment.

However, he breached the order on January 5.

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