Homeless man placed at Ibis hotel in Portsmouth during lockdown jailed for having Stanley knife

Wayne Cull, 41, had a Stanley knife at the Ibis hotel in Fratton Way, in Portsmouth, just before 4.20pm on Sunday, April 19.

It comes as Portsmouth City Council admitted homeless vulnerable people placed at the hotel had caused problems in the area.

The authority has placed people there during the coronavirus lockdown after government ordered councils to ensure everyone had a home.

Cull was remanded after being charged and appeared at Portsmouth Magistrates' Court on Monday.

He admitted having the knife.

District judge Gary Lucie imposed a 145-day prison term due to Cull's previous convictions.

Cull had admitted breaching a conditional discharge for theft when he stole £16 worth of Jack Daniels from Tesco on November 23. The judge re-sentenced but imposed no separate penalty for the shoplifting.

As reported, police and the city council have said they will take action if there are problems at the hotel.

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