‘I don’t have any excuse for it’ – three men fined for urinating in York city centre

Three men have been fined a total of £1,122 for urinating on York streets.

York magistrates have backed action taken by the council and police against offences against public decency.

While sentencing one guilty party, a magistrate said: “We cannot tolerate this behaviour in York.”

Case 1: Micklegate

Date of offence: Wednesday 24 January
Date of court hearing: Tuesday 22 May

At about 11.30pm a police sergeant on duty saw Nathan Charles Rushby-Jones, 19, of Newland Park Drive, urinating off Micklegate, just six metres away. When challenged, he apologised.

Sentence: He was fined £250, ordered to pay costs of £300 and a £30 court surcharge.

Case 2: Parliament Street

Date of offence: Saturday 13 January
Date of court hearing: Tuesday 10 April

In the early hours a police officer on patrol saw Gareth James Haycock, 24, of Chat Hill Road, Bradford deliberately urinating as he walked along Parliament Street.

When challenged, he told the officer: “I don’t have any excuse for it.”

Magistrates told him: “This was an act in full view of witnesses on Parliament Street, and we cannot tolerate this behaviour in York.”

Sentence: He was given a £110 fine, £30 court surcharge and £150 costs.

Case 3: Bank machine

Date of offence: Friday 9 February
Date of court hearing: Tuesday 10 April

Shortly after midnight a PCSO on patrol also in Parliament Street saw James McCallum, 20, of Prospect Court, Batley, urinating against a bank cash machine.

Initially Mr McCallum denied the offence claiming he was withdrawing cash but later admitted the offence.

Sentence: He was given a £72 fine, £30 court surcharge and £150 costs.

‘Offending public decency’

Cllr Helen Douglas, executive member for housing and safer neighbourhood at City of York Council, said: “All licensed premises have customer toilets as part of their licensing conditions and most people rightly use them.

“The minority who don’t create a costly health hazard to clean up as well as offending public decency.

“With the support of North Yorkshire Police and the courts, we reiterate that there is no excuse for fouling our streets in this way.”

Sergeant Nick Plumb, of North Yorkshire Police, said: “I hope these sentences send a clear message that this behaviour is completely unacceptable in our city.

“We will continue to work with the council to ensure offenders are dealt with appropriately.”