Shrewsbury man slapped with court bill for urinating in alleyway on New Year's Eve
Michael Steele, aged 63, had been “with drink” when he relieved himself on New Year’s Eve
A Shrewsbury man who was worse the wear for drink and urinated in an alleyway on New Year’s Eve has been handed a £185 court bill.
Michael Steele, aged 63 and of Preston Gubbals Road, was intoxicated when he nipped into an alleyway at around 1.40pm on December 31 last year, Shrewsbury Crown Court heard on Monday (June 15).
Danny Smith, prosecuting, told the court the alleyway in question was not a public thoroughfare but connected two residential properties.
He said a resident in one of the properties spotted Steele stagger into the alleyway, expose himself and urinate.
Mr Smith said the resident was forced to clean up the mess left by Steele because it would not wash away due to the alleyway being covered and protected from the rain.
Mr Smith told the court that Steele, who had admitted criminal damage to the alleyway, had a problem with drink, having been convicted on 22 previous occasions for 58 offences, mainly for drink-related matters.
He added that the Crown offered no evidence on a charge of outraging public decency, after Steele denied the offence.
Rob Edwards, mitigating for Steele, described the defendant as a “vulnerable adult”.
Recorder Julian Taylor told Steele it had been “very anti-social behaviour” and handed down a 12-month conditional discharge, ordered the defendant pay £85 in court costs as well as £100 compensation to the resident who had to clean up his urine.