Homeless man's ninth breach of asbo
A man who repeatedly breaches his Asbo by getting drunk in Beverley has told a judge he wants to get his "pride and dignity" back.
John Bernard Martindale, 65, has breached his Anti-social behaviour order for a ninth time by drinking in Beverley.
He was caught drinking from a two litre cider bottle outside a church in North Bar Within in the town on May 29.
He apologised to the police community support officer who caught him and offered to pour it away.
But he was arrested for breaching his Asbo, which prohibits him from drinking alcohol and from having an open container of alcohol in any public place in East Yorkshire - except on licensed premises.
Martindale, who is also known as Bernie, pleaded guilty to breaching his Asbo at Hull Crown Court and sent a letter to the judge.
Recorder Carl Gumsley said: "I have read your letter and it seems like you are somebody who doesn't want to be in the situation you are in.
"The solution is not to drink your life away."
Martindale said: "No it is not. I accept that. I am sorry for what I have done.
"I have lost my dignity. I want to get my pride and dignity back."
Recorder Gumsley told Martindale there was no magic cure and he would have to help himself by staying off the drink.
Martindale admitted he had been drinking the cider in public and he knew it contravened his order.
He had previously breached his Asbo on April 6 in Beverley - again for drinking in public and was sentenced to three months imprisonment on that occasion.
Martindale told the court he'd had a "tough" time in prison.
Recorder Gumsley sentenced him to a community order for two years with a two-year supervision order and was ordered to attend an alcohol related offending programme.
Martindale has 92 previous convictions for 122 offences.
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by Fiona, Beverley
Wednesday, July 29 2009, 12:31PM
“Cate - who do you think you are!! Beverley's glad to be rid of people like you! Ive lived in Beverley all my life and im no snob! The discussion here was about Bernie not your failed marriage and dislike from a neighbour.
Ive never been bothered by Bernie. He needs some professional help as an alcoholic not putting back in prison. I think there are far worse things this area should be worrying about.... like women who allow their children to live in squalor!!!! Then get a suspended sentence! The law stinks!”
by sue, beverley
Friday, July 17 2009, 9:28AM
“Seems like Dave from Hedon,must have a perfect life..yer right.somebody should sellotape your mouth shut.and as for cate,you should of stayed down south and given us Beverley folk some peace,were not all snobs.Leave Bernie alone if u dont like him dont visit Beverley simple as!!!!.”
by Cate, Hull
Monday, July 06 2009, 9:14PM
“I used to deal with Bernie on a daily basis when I lived in Beverley - and worked in Hull. He used to try and board the 121 bus at the Swinemoor Lane end bus stop - but the drivers had a strict rule not to let him on!!! He used to have a bottle - either meths or real spirit, and when the drivers used to escort him down, he used to sound off with a huge barrage of blasphemy - wishing the driver would die horribly, more swearing, to the point that the whole early morning bus would be so unsettled - and besides this, he would boast he was in the SAS (is it true??) and he was going to come back and shoot us all!!!! I am so glad I'm out of Beverley and retired now, he was always sitting on the floor in front of M&S wetting himself, always with a bottle, and always drunk and loud. The kids used to tease him, he was drunk at the midnight Xmas Mass in Dec 2001, he disrupted the service and came in drunk and swearing at the priest "where's your Christian charity - and f...ing away - I don't know what the solution is, but he shouldn't be out and about drunk, what about the tourists who flock to Beverley - and the snobs who have lived there all their lives, and who dislike outsiders, what do they think?? I lived in Beverley Molescroft for over 20 years, and though I was white and my husband English but from the south, we were never accepted by our next-door neighbour who was a snob and said Beverley was for Beverlonians - she made our life hell - no wonder my marriage broke up - we needed that old stoical couple near us like a hole in the head! So - all you lot in Beverley, good luck with Bernie, you are getting your just desserts for hounding me out of there. My ex has also left me for a floozy from Beverley, so I have no sympathy for your troubles, I just hope Bernie finds some peace of mind or maybe he should go down south, they may accept him down there, you never know!!!!”
by Jeps, HULL
Sunday, July 05 2009, 3:19PM
“You can't say that he is doing no harm if some people do find the drunkeness and the loud music offensive. But obviously ASBO, prison and fines are not working - the authorities need to look at something else.”
by the wurzels, somerset
Sunday, July 05 2009, 1:59PM
“you'd fit right in down here bern,”