Alcoholic sent to Old Bailey after opening beer can in breach of ASBO: report

An alcoholic who breached his anti-social behaviour order by opening a can of lager in public has appeared before an Old Bailey judge, the London Evening Standard has reported.

Stephen Geddes had been banned from possessing a container of alcohol in public after a series of incidents in Turnham Green. In June he was caught opening a can of Heineken.

Magistrates sentenced Geddes, 42, to an 18-month community order with an alcohol treatment requirement and 40 hours of unpaid work. They also sent the case to the Old Bailey for sentencing over a breach to an earlier suspended sentence.

The Evening Standard said the decision came as a surprise to the judge, Mr Recorder William Clegg QC.

He said: “The only thing he’s done is open a can of beer. It is rather a brave (ASBO) order to make for an alcoholic. It’s not exactly stealing the crown jewels. Who would have thought a can of beer would have cost so much public money?”

The judge ruled that it would be “unjust” to make any order in breach of the suspended sentence, saying that Geddes had made good progress.

Last month the Home Secretary announced a review of ASBO legislation. Theresa May said it was "time to move beyond the ASBO”.