James Thornton back in court over St Austell drinking ban

The court order was simple enough. No drinking in public, and no being drunk in public either. James Thornton managed to break it twice in the space of three days, and a day after his arrest he was back in court.

On Thursday (5 November) James was arrested, charged and remanded to court for breaching his criminal behaviour order (CBO), St Austell Police have said.

Why the order was in place

According to police, James had previously been involved in alcohol-fuelled public order offences and anti-social behaviour in St Austell, which caused significant concern in the community.

That led the court to impose a CBO on him, designed to prevent and deter him from reoffending. One of its conditions is that he must not drink alcohol, or be intoxicated, in a public place.

Drunk in public twice in one week

Police say James was identified as being drunk in public places in St Austell on Tuesday 3 November and again on Thursday 5 November.

What the court decided

He appeared at court on Friday (6 November), where he pleaded guilty to breaching his CBO.

The court imposed a sentence of 34 weeks in prison, suspended for 18 months.

Police were keen to point out that the penalty was the decision of the court, not theirs. They added that if James is convicted at court of any future offences, the prison term will be activated.

📷Credit: Devon & Cornwall Police