A rough sleeper had a charge of breaching the new coronavirus lockdown laws against him withdrawn after a court was told they don't apply to homeless people.
John Wesley Brogan, 41, has been convicted of being drunk and disorderly, however, after verbally abusing police officers and hugging a member of the public.
Brogan was spotted by police in the city centre at around 10:30pm on Tuesday night the court was told. Officers approached him and he was 'clearly intoxicated' Robin Lynch prosecuting said.
He verbally abused the officers before running off, one of 'several occasions' he tried to evade them he said. The officers radioed their colleagues and he was seen hugging a member of the public near Piccadilly Gardens before eventually being