Drunken error of judgement proves costly for Wisbech man

A Wisbech man who got on the wrong bus home earned himself a £655 court bill for his drunken behaviour after realising his mistake.

Marcus Steven Cresswell (30) got off the bus in King's Lynn’s Hardwick Road and ended up rowing with police after shopping in Tesco.

Prosecutor Eleanor Sheerin told King’s Lynn Magistrates’ Court yesterday (Thursday) that officers had been called to the store on another matter and were returning to their car when Cresswell called them over.

“It immediately became obvious that he had been drinking,” said Miss Sheerin. “He was complaining about being treated unfairly by store staff.”

Agitated Cresswell was shouting and swearing and refused to calm down. He resisted an attempt to be arrested and eventually he had to be restrained within the store’s foyer, still continuing to swear at the officers.

Cresswell, of Bruce Close, pleaded guilty to being drunk and disorderly in a public place.

In mitigation, he said he had first become annoyed at his treatment by security guards after he had put items from Tesco and Dobbies in the same trolley, not realising they were separate stores. And then the police told him it was not a matter for them.

“Because I was inebriated, it clearly escalated it,” said Cresswell, who claimed he left £100 of paid-for shopping in the store following his arrest. “I shouldn’t have been drunk, shouldn’t have approached the law, I should’ve got a taxi home.”

He was fined £500 and ordered to pay £105 costs and £50 victim surcharge.