Lincoln man who breached drinking ban 11 times slapped with fine

A Lincoln man with a long history of anti-social behaviour has been order to pay a £480 fine after repeatedly breaching a drinking ban.

It’s the first time in the county that a person has successfully been taken to court for breaching a Community Protection Notice.

42-year-old Andrew McInnes of Chatterton Avenue was served with a Community Protection Notice on December 16, 2014 following 23 separate alcohol-related incidents involving the police between July and October 2014.

The notice banned him from drinking alcohol in a public place in the city centre.

Lincoln Magistrates’ Court heard McInnes began breaching the order on December 21 – less than five days after it was served.

He then went on to breach the notice 11 times in total between then and March 4, 2015.

He was served a Fixed Penalty Notice on January 7, 2015 for breaching the notice but did not pay the £100 fine.

At Lincoln Magistrates’ Court on Wednesday, May 20, he was found guilty in his absence and given a further £300 fine, ordered to pay costs of £150 and a £30 victim surcharge.

The court heard McInnes had a protracted record of unreasonable and anti-social behaviour, including gathering with others and drinking alcohol in public view, shouting and swearing at passers by, and acting in a drunk and disorderly manner, causing harassment and alarm to others.

He had previously received two warning letters from the council for his anti-social behaviour and had entered into an Acceptable Behaviour Contract to try to address this.

Sam Barstow, Service Manager for Public Protection and Anti-Social Behaviour at City of Lincoln Council, said: “This is the first time in the county that someone has been successfully taken to court for the breach of a Community Protection Notice and we are very pleased with the outcome, which shows anti-social behaviour will not be tolerated.

“The defendant was issued with a Community Protection Notice that banned him from being in possession of an unsealed container of alcohol in a public place within the city boundary, and from entering a restricted area of the city without permission.

“It also required him to be assessed by Addaction to help address his alcohol consumption. We will always try to work with people to support them and court action is a last resort.”