Drunk man lay in road "mimicking Just Stop Oil protesters"

Barry Williams, of Thuringen Street in Ross-on-Wye, pleaded guilty to being drunk and disorderly in the town on July 27 when he appeared at Hereford Magistrates Court yesterday (September 13).

Tom Wickstead, from the Crown Prosecution Service, said that a police officer's attention was drawn to an incident in which people were staring.

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"The defendant was lying in the middle of the road," said Mr Wickstead.

"The officer asked him to move about five times, but each time the defendant replied, 'no'. He arrested the defendant for being drunk and disorderly."

Representing himself, Williams said that he was 'just acting stupid'.

"I was in the Eagle talking about Just Stop Oil protesters and how I was going to go in the road as well and stop the traffic," he said.

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"It was a laugh and a joke. I didn't realise there was an off-duty officer in the queue.

"I am sorry. It was all a mistake that was done in jest."

The 46-year-old was told by the magistrate that the protesters are not funny and cause a lot of disruption.

He was handed a conditional discharge for six months and was told he does not have to pay court costs. He does, however, have to pay a mandatory government surcharge of £26.