A man from Bath has this week been sentenced after admitting being in possession of an offensive weapon in the city centre and causing criminal damage.
On 24th September Lee Beer was arrested for having a metal bar with him in Milsom Street after he had caused more than £1,700 worth of criminal damage to a door at Julian House, the charity which helps people who are homeless.
After damaging the door, Beer had been picked up by CCTV in the city centre and arrested. He had a metal bar concealed in his jacket.
He pleaded guilty to the two offences at a hearing in December when Bath magistrates adjourned the case for a pre-sentence report to be compiled by the Probation Service.
Beer, who had been on conditional bail, was back in the dock for sentencing on Monday 16th February.
The magistrates noted that the 37-year-old, of Burlington Street, had some “quite nasty offences” on his list of previous convictions, but there had been a long gap since he had last been in trouble.
They accepted the recommendation of the Probation Service to impose an 18-month community order.
This will involve a nine-month mental health treatment requirement (MHTR) with the organisation DHI (Developing Health & Independence) and a nine-month drug rehabilitation requirement (DRR) with the organisation Turning Point.
Beer must also complete up to 15 rehabilitation activity requirement (RAR) days.
Rather than ordering Beer to pay a £114 court surcharge and £85 prosecution costs as they initially considered, the magistrates decided to award that combined amount to Julian House as part compensation instead.
Magistrates also ordered that Beer be deprived of the weapon.
