Drunk OAP, 68, who has committed 340 offenses, is released from court for abusing a physiotherapist after JPs were told he is now off the hook

A 68-year-old man with a 53-year criminal record for drunken escapades in Warrington, Cheshire, has walked free from the courtroom after claiming he had finally cleaned himself up.

Christopher Berry, known locally as “Dancin’ Chris” because he danced drunk on the side of the road, has committed 340 crimes since 1971, including fighting, threatening violence and urinating in public.

Berry, once described as a “police resource hog,” repeatedly got into trouble for his disruptive behavior.

In 2009, he was given a Criminal Anti-Social Behavior Order (CRASBO), which banned him from dancing in the street and from sitting or lying on the street, after he observed incidents in which he was “waving his arms around, made loud, incoherent noises” and stepped into traffic.

In January 2020, he was banned from the city center by a four-year Criminal Behavior Order (CBO) after 19 separate incidents involving fights, threats of violence, attacks on police and urinating in public in just five months.

Christopher Berry, known locally as “Dancin’ Chris” because he danced drunk on the side of the road, has committed 340 crimes since 1971, including fighting, threatening violence and urinating in public

Berry, once described as a “police resource hog,” repeatedly got into trouble for disruptive behavior

Despite his lengthy criminal record, Berry was back in court after she was arrested last April for swearing at a physical therapist who asked him to leave the entrance to her business.

Drunk and slurring, he said to her: “I’m almost 70 years old. ‘You can fuck off.’

At Warrington Magistrates Court Berry admitted behaving in a threatening manner but was given a conditional discharge after claiming he had been sober for two months.

Prosecutor Lynne Sayers detailed Berry’s extensive criminal record, which spanned more than five decades and 339 previous offenses.

In his defense, attorney Gary Schooler explained that Berry struggled after learning his sister had been diagnosed with cancer, but has since stopped drinking and is determined to remain sober.

Judge Michael Danaher praised Berry for his recent sobriety and warned him to stay out of trouble: “We’re very pleased to hear that you’ve stopped drinking and hopefully that will continue.”

In 2009, he was given a Criminal Anti-Social Behavior Order (CRASBO), which banned him from dancing in the street and from sitting or lying on the street, after he observed incidents in which he was “waving his arms around, made loud, incoherent noises” and stepped into traffic

In January 2020, he was banned from the city center by a four-year Criminal Behavior Order (CBO) after 19 separate incidents involving fights, threats of violence, attacks on police and urinating in public in just five months

Despite his lengthy criminal record, Berry was back in court after she was arrested last April for swearing at a physical therapist who asked him to leave the entrance to her business. Drunk and slurring, he said to her: “I’m almost 70 years old.” You can fuck off

At Warrington Magistrates Court Berry admitted behaving in a threatening manner but was given a conditional discharge after claiming he had been sober for two months. Prosecutor Lynne Sayers detailed Berry’s extensive criminal record, which spanned more than five decades and 339 previous offenses

“Just stop drinking, stay sober and stay out of trouble and you won’t hear about it again.”

“You will know what a conditional discharge is as you have probably had hundreds of them.”

Berry’s notoriety extends beyond the courtroom.

In 2008, a fan group with over 7,000 members was created on Facebook, where drivers honked when they passed him on the street.