Man breached bail and fell into canal (From Worcester News)

Man breached bail and fell into canal

7:30pm Saturday 28th January 2012 in News By Sarah Davies

A MAN breached his bail conditions when he fell into a canal while drunk, a court heard.

Scott Howard should have been home by 7pm on Wednesday, January 18, in accordance with an overnight curfew, but was an hour late because of the mishap.

Colin Heald, prosecuting at Worcester Magistrates Court, said Howard is due to be sentenced on Friday, February 17, at Worcester Crown Court for two criminal damage offences.

He was released until that date on conditional bail, which included an electronically monitored curfew at his home in Martindale Close, Warndon, Worcester.

Mr Heald said when security staff noticed Howard had not returned home by 7pm that evening, they called his home and spoke to his niece who did not know where he was.

The 27-year-old was arrested on Tuesday and taken into custody.

Mark Sheward, defending, urged District Judge Nigel Cadbury to grant Howard bail again.

He said bail had been granted last time in order for a pre-sentence report to be carried out on his client in relation to his mental health.

Mr Sheward told the court his client suffered from severe depression and psychotic episodes, during which he would harm himself.

He said drink had been a problem for Howard because of this.

On the night of the breach, he said his client had gone out with friends and drunk “quite a lot”.

Mr Sheward said Howard was on track to get home on time when he fell into the canal. His friends got him out of the water before taking him back to their home.

By the time he returned to his address it was 8pm.

Dick Schwab, from the Probation Service, said Howard had been complying with his order until this breach.

Mr Cadbury granted Howard conditional bail, providing that he resides at his address in Martindale Close, he observes a curfew between 7pm and 7am, he is not in possession of alcohol in a public place and does not enter any licensed premises.