Man Gets 8 Month In Jail For Having A Brew And Not Causing Problems

A 60-YEAR-OLD drunk was jailed again yesterday for a fifth breach of an anti-social behaviour order by walking into a pub.

Raymond Huw Evans, of no fixed address but who lives in the Bangor area, was out of prison for one day only when he breached his Asbo again - by going to a local for a drink..

Jailing him for eight months at Mold Crown Court, Judge Merfyn Hughes QC said if Evans was serious about wanting to stop drinking, he should seek probation service help when he is released.

It was accepted he had not caused any problems, or stirred up any harassment, alarm or distress among customers or staff.

But for Evans, in view of his large number of previous convictions, simply walking into a pub and having a drink is illegal under the terms of his Asbo.

The court heard how the original Asbo was imposed in July last year.

It stipulated how he must not enter a pub in the Bangor Pubwatch Scheme. He must not drink any alcohol in any public place in England or Wales, and he must not go begging.

But within a matter of days he breached it and was jailed for 28 days. He received a further 28 days for his second breach, then 56 days for his third breach last November.

In January this year, a 168-day sentence was imposed for the fourth breach but within 24 hours of being released he was found having a pint at The Menai public house in Bangor, said prosecutor Chris Moss.

Judge Hughes told Evans he had gone into a pub where he thought he would not be recognised.

"The serious nature of this offending is that you repeat such behaviour," the judge said.

"It is said that you are motivated to address your drink problem but there is no evidence to support that assertion.

"I accept that you did not cause any problems, or any undue harassment or distress by going into that pub.

Source – Welsh News