Drinker back in trouble after meeting friend off his bus from prison and kicking off in Sunderland city centre

Heavily convicted Terry Cartman, 32, kicked off in Sunderland city centre after his booze session and on his way to get a 5pm bus home.

Cartman, of Ennerdale Terrace, Houghton, became aggressive in front of students and passers-by – and police were called.

He then yelled and threatened them during the melee on Monday, October 19, magistrates in South Tyneside were told.

They heard Cartman, who pleaded guilty to being drunk and disorderly, had 43 previous convictions from 61 offences but had been crime free for two years.

Jobless Cartman, who defended himself, admitted he had again fallen in with the wrong crowd after steering clear.

He told the court: “That day, I’d gone to meet a friend who had been to prison and I thought I’d meet him off the bus.

“It was back to the bad old ways, back into the frying pan. I had not seen them for a few years.

“My mood wasn’t the best and alcohol fuelled it. I got into a confrontation.

“I was on the way to the bus-stop to go home and obviously it escalated from that. I was bang out of order.

“I was out of order, especially in a public place and in front of students and other people. They did the right thing in taking me off the streets.”

Prosecutor Becky Slade told the hearing: “Officers were on duty at 5pm in Sunderland city centre.

“They received a radio communication from a community support officer, seeking assistance as she was having a problem with the defendant.

“He was drunk and being confrontational with students, and there were members of the public in the vicinity.

“He was dishevelled in appearance and unsteady on his feet. His speech was slurred and smelled of intoxicating liquor.

“He threatened to smash the heads in of the police. This was in a public area at the central bus station.”

Magistrates handed Cartman, who owes £2,240 in fines, a six-month conditional discharge and he must pay £85 costs and a £22 victim surcharge.

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