Cornwall will provide new start for drinker Brian Tucker
DRINKER Brian Tucker has been given the chance for a fresh start after admitting being drunk and disorderly in a city centre park.
Tucker, 47, of no fixed address, and who has been arrested more than a dozen times in recent years, was found in a drink-induced sleep, lying across a path, by a member of the public in Rougemont Gardens.
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'Sad life': Brian Tucker
Police were called at 2pm on Sunday, July 4, and found Tucker lying in a sleeping bag. They woke him up and he became abusive and repeatedly swore at them.
When Tucker stood up the officers noticed that he had urinated on himself and police did up his trousers to prevent him exposing himself. He was drunk and was arrested.
Two weeks later a security guard at Iceland saw Tucker go into the store at 5pm, on July 17, and take two packs of ham.
He left without paying and was found nearby eating the ham.
Police arrested him and he told officers that he could not remember the incident but had been in town drinking cider.
Magistrates were told that Tucker had appeared in court on Friday last week for a similar offence of being drunk and disorderly, on June 29.
He admitted that the latest offence put him in breach of a conditional discharge imposed on him in April.
Mitigating Katherine Todd said: "He has a horrendous problem with alcohol. He has been drinking for 20 years. He is leading a rather sad and undignified life."
She said he was not receiving benefits as his claim had lapsed and he is in arrears with homeless charity St Petrocks, in Cathedral Yard, where he regularly goes for food.
The court heard that Exeter's Street Homeless Outreach Team has suggested that Tucker could move to rented accommodation in Saltash for a fresh start and where he would get help for his problems.
The team believes that the move to the Cornish town where, through a homeless network across the South West, it can find accommodation, he could be rehabilitated.
Magistrates welcomed this idea and ordered that Tucker pay £90 in fines and costs but agreed that time served in custody could account for that.
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by mikehunt, WORK
Thursday, July 22 2010, 12:02PM
“I have seen this person naked pushing a shopping trolly ?
Totally normal !!”
by The Local Vocal, Exeter
Thursday, July 22 2010, 11:31AM
“I have known this guy for years and he has always been the same. Some people just don't want to be helped and unfortunately, he is one of them. Sending him to another place will more than likely make his issue with alcohol worse as he will be even more alone than he is now. He is violent and agressive and I can never see him changing for anyone. Alcohol has played a 'huge' part in his behaviour, so much so that I think he has damaged his brain over the years. Come on Brian...time to clean up before you end up pushing up the daisies!”
by The Local Vocal, Exeter
Thursday, July 22 2010, 11:26AM
“I have known this guy for years and he has always been the same. Some people just don't want to be helped and unfortunately, he is one of them. Sending him to another place will more than likely make his issue with alcohol worse as he will be even more alone than he is now. He is violent and agressive and I can never see him changing for anyone. Alcohol has played a 'huge' part in his behaviour, so much so that I think he has damaged his brain over the years. Come on Brian...time to clean up before you end up pushing up the daisies!”
by Anita, Exwter
Thursday, July 22 2010, 8:26AM
“That's not nice i was drinkin with Bri
outside Green Gables he looked Broken man. you have to fell sorry for the guy.”
by Brian the beast, Park bench, Exeter
Thursday, July 22 2010, 2:42AM
“I often find the need to get my jon thomas out in public, and i find feigning alcholism and pretending that i cant control my bladder a good way to get away with it !”