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.