Raymond Burton who was subject of suspended sentence and admitted common assault on enforcement officer, told court he had new home
A “caveman” with a long-standing drink problem and 328 offences on his record has been spared jail after telling a court he now had a new home.
Raymond Burton, 53, who had lived for most of the last four years in a cave on the Great Orme headland at Llandudno, gave his new address as Victor Wilde Drive, Rhos on Sea .
Burton appeared before magistrates at Llandudno and admitted common assault on an enforcement officer in September after smearing his shirt with dog dirt, and breaching a criminal behaviour order by shouting and swearing.
Sheyanne Lee, prosecuting, said in August he received a conditional discharge for begging and, last April, a 20 weeks suspended sentence for assault.
But instead of activating the prison term, court chairman Alan Williams told Burton: “We think, on balance, it would be unjust to impose that sentence on you.”
He said for the first time in a long period, Burton had “settled” accommodation in a peaceful cul-de-sac overlooking a cricket club, with pensioners’ bungalows, close to two children’s parks and a village school.
He had the positive influence of a 50-year-old woman friend. She had known Burton for eight weeks and described him in a letter as “polite and courteous.”
The magistrates extended the operational period of the suspended sentence from 12 to 18 months.
Mr Williams said it was an “unpleasant” assault and a £100 fine was imposed with £50 compensation awarded to Glen Walton.
Burton was also fined £150 for breaching the criminal behaviour order and must pay £530 costs.
The court heard Burton had been in an area of the North Shore beach at Llandudno where dogs were banned and he had failed, at first, to pick up mess. Body-cam footage was shown to the court of his “aggressive” behaviour when confronted by Mr Walton.
The prosecutor said Burton had 328 offences on his record.
Defence solicitor Robert Vickery said Burton’s language wasn’t the worst the court came across. “Mr Burton didn’t understand exactly why he couldn’t have the dog on the beach. He was then asked to remove the dog excrement which he did and walked up to the enforcement officer and put his hand on the shoulder. There’s slight marking on the shoulder.”
Burton, on state benefit, had been homeless and living on the Great Orme. He was worried that he would lose his new home, if he were jailed.
http://www.dailypost.co.uk/news/north-wales-news/llandudno-caveman-who-smeared-dog-12168407
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