Drunken nuisance pestered women out in Bishop Auckland

Paul Lee is forbidden from being intoxicated, through drink or other substances, in public as part of the three-year criminal behaviour order (CBO) imposed at Newton Aycliffe Magistrates’ Court in January last year.

He appeared at Durham Crown Court today (Tuesday, October 24) via a video link from the city’s nearby prison where he has been detained having been arrested on successive weekends in Bishop Auckland, last month.

The 45-year-old defendant, of no fixed abode, but previously of North Briton Court, Aycliffe Village, admitted breaching the CBO on September 2 and again on September 10, both in Bishop Auckland.

Read more: Man caused city disturbance after downing stolen vodka

He also admitted criminal damage to a police station cell, over a “dirty protest” when he was admitted to custody after the second arrest.

Martin Towers, prosecuting, said a woman out in Bishop Auckland noticed Lee, whose behaviour was also drawing the attention of others, without causing particular concern, as she made her way to a town centre pub on the evening of Friday, September 1.

Mr Towers said later, after leaving another bar in the town centre after midnight, she noticed him again, but this time described his behaviour was described as being, “bothersome”.

Lee was said to be touching the bags of a group of women out in the town that night, touching them and seeking hugs.

Mr Towers said the women spoke to Lee, urging him to rein in his behaviour, but she was, “not impressed by his responses”, so she informed the police.

She moved into a pizza shop, where Lee appeared, but as he did so the police turned up and arrested him.

Mr Towers said while the woman did not feel Lee’s motive was sexual she was concerned for some of the other people he was bothering.

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Having been arrested and bailed over events that night, he was arrested again at 6.45am on Sunday, September 10, for being intoxicated in public, on Cockton Hill Road, Bishop Auckland.

The criminal damage matter arose while in police custody after that arrest, when he smeared faeces around the cell.

Mr Towers said the defendant has 161 convictions, a number of them recently, for breaching the CBO, an offence he has now committed 14 times since it was issued.

Helen Towers, for Lee, said she had to accept they were, “deliberate breaches”, as, on both occasions, he was in an intoxicated state.

She said he has been in custody, as a result, for more than a month.

But she said he would wish to apologise over the cell incident following his arrest on September 10, which she conceded was, “clearly not pleasant”.

Miss Towers said it followed what he claimed was a “very intense arrest”, as she said he was then stripped and left with very little toilet paper in his cell.

“He knows, however, that his behaviour was not the appropriate response.”

Miss Towers said Lee suffers with bi-polar disorder, which he has endured since childhood.

She said the issue her client must face up to is his response and how he deals with alcohol upon his eventual release from custody.

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Judge James Adkin said the order was imposed as a “disincentive” to him getting drunk and abusing drugs, then irritating members of the public.

Allowing the defendant 25-per cent discount on the eight-month sentence he would have received had he not admitted the offence, Judge Adkin imposed a six-month prison sentence.

A condition of his licence upon release will be 12-months’ supervision during which Judge Adkin told Lee he hopes he engages with the Probation Service, who will strive to find him suitable accommodation and ensure he steers clear of drink and drugs.