Penarth vagrant’s Asbo is overturned in court (From Penarth Times)

Penarth vagrant, Gary Cooper’s Asbo is overturned in court

3:20pm Thursday 7th February 2013 in News

VAGRANT Gary Cooper has successfully appealed an Anti-social behaviour order (Asbo) against him which was said to “breach his human rights”.

Fifty-year-old Cooper – well-known as a visitor to Penarth and a past occupant of both the doorway of Tels nightclub, now called Eclipse, and Cosmeston Lakes bus stop – appealed against the conditions of the order imposed on him last year, on Friday at Cardiff Crown Court.

Following an application by South Wales Police, at Cardiff Magistrates on November 21, 2012, Cooper was prohibited from possessing an open container of alcohol; from entering any licensed premises while under the influence of alcohol; from urinating in public; and from abusing members of the public or police officers, within the area defined as Cardiff, Penarth and Barry – a variance on an original Asbo imposed on him in December 2011.

But the variance order was overturned by Judge John Curran on Friday after Ciaran Gould, for South Wales Police, said she was unable to contest the appeal of Cooper – loud and outspoken throughout the short hearing.

Speaking after, Ms Gould said: “The order forbade him from having an open container or being drunk in a very large public area.

“For a chronic alcoholic that is impossible.”

After the judge had granted the appeal, Cooper – who entered the dock wearing a large cream scarf and colourful hat – shouted: “I love you. You are the best judge in the world.”

Cooper remains the subject of the original order banning him from Penarth town centre when intoxicated.

His solicitor Declan McSorley said: “There will be no application by defence with regard to this order because it works.”