Urinating man made noise like an elephant

A man urinated over flower beds in front of shocked shoppers, while making a noise like an elephant, a court heard. Robert Moore, aged 48, sprayed his urine to and fro while exposing himself in front of a café, Plymouth magistrates were told. His solicitor said Moore had a "raging alcohol problem" at the time.

Magistrates gave him a conditional discharge after hearing he was tackling his drinking. Moore, of Wilkinson Road, St Budeaux, had earlier admitted threatening behaviour on August 9. Sentence was deferred to see whether he could keep out of trouble and comply with a community order for a previous offence.



Jenny Cater, for the Crown Prosecution Service, said Moore was seen urinating into the street planters in St Budeaux Square at about 4pm. She added he was exposing himself: "He was spraying urine to and fro into the flower beds while making noises like an elephant." The court heard a public toilet was open on the other side of the square. Miss Cater said a "shocked and distressed" couple with their five-year-old daughter reported the offence to police.

Stephen Walker, for Moore, said: "For many years he has had a raging alcohol problem but he seems to have turned the matter around." He added Moore had done well with treatment for his addiction under his previous community order. Mr Walker said he had found work as a stage hand for music concerts. Magistrates who read his progress report on his alcohol treatment order gave him a 12-month conditional discharge. He was ordered to pay £50 prosecution costs.