Bracelet seller in court on public order offence
A FRIENDSHIP bracelet seller who is a familiar face in Newcastle city centre has appeared at court for verbally abusing police.
James Williams can regularly be seen sitting in Northumberland Street with blankets and bracelets laid out in front of him. However, the 44-year-old had been made subject of a community protection notice, banning him from attempting to sell his wares.
But Williams landed himself in court last week for breaching the protection notice and committing a public order offence.
He appeared at Newcastle Magistrates’ Court where he admitted to failing to comply with the notice on dates between November last year and February this year. He also pleaded guilty to a public order offence, which was committed on March 14 this year.
Bushra Begum, prosecuting, said Williams breached the protection notice by laying out blankets in front of him and “enticing people to look at bracelets” which are regularly placed on show. She said that he also became “rowdy and confrontational” with police officers who told him to move on. She said on occasions when police officers approach him, he says he is being “victimised” and in one instance called an officer an “a ******* ”.
Ms Begum added that during the public order offence, Williams was handcuffed and did “plead” with the police. Williams was said to be in the process of moving his belongings at the time.
Andrew O’hanlon, defending Williams, told the court that he suffers from mental health issues, including schizophrenia, and does have a home in Kenton Road, Newcastle. However, due to paranoia, he spends a lot of time on the streets.
Mr O’hanlon said: “He carries his belonging with him, including school text books which centre him. He is beloved in the area, and [staff at] the Sainsbury’s he sits outside of bring him food and drinks. A lot of people have a lot of time for him...he is a very, very vulnerable individual.”
For failing to comply with the community protection notice, Williams was given an absolute discharge. For the public order offence, he was given a 12-month conditional discharge.