South Shields man verbally abused staff at South Tyneside Magistrates’ Court
An offender returned to the scene of his crime when he attended court in South Tyneside on a drunk and disorderly charge.
Richard Evans, 58, admitted he had misbehaved by verbally abusing staff outside the borough’s magistrates’ court on an earlier occasion.
He had turned up on Thursday, December 4, to be sentenced on a charge of causing racially or religiously aggravated harassment, alarm or distress.
But Evans, of St Vincent Street, South Shields, was stopped in his tracks by security staff – and arrested outside by police summoned to the scene after he turned nasty.
Evans came back to the same court on Tuesday, December 23, to plead guilty to a charge of being drunk and disorderly in a public place in relation to that incident.
Prosecutor Emily Hunt said: “Officers were despatched to South Tyneside Magistrates’ Court due to the defendant swearing and being abusive to staff.
“They found him sitting on the floor outside the court building and he then became verbally abusive.
“He was warned about his abusive language, but he continued towards the officer. The officer found that the defendant appeared drunk.
“His eyes were glazed, and the officer formed the opinion that he was intoxicated. He was arrested for being drunk and disorderly.”
Evans, who has 35 previous convictions from 43 offences, defended himself and said only, "I'm just sorry."
Magistrates sentenced Evans, who they heard owes £3,000 from previous court matters, to a six-month conditional discharge.
They told him they hoped he now realised it was unacceptable to turn up at court and misbehave.
Evans has appeared in court separately for the racially aggravated offence and was fined and ordered to pay compensation.