A well-known Brighton beggar has been banned from Brighton Station for repeatedly playing its piano.
Tobias Denyer was given a criminal behaviour order banning him from entering the station and Queens Road in January.
Today, he was sentenced for breaching it six times from March to June this year.
The original order said he could go into the station as long as he immediately bought a ticket and got straight on a train.
Today, he said he found that too confusing and said it would be better if he was banned from the station altogether.
He also admitted shouting homophobic abuse at PC Rogers after he was arrested in April, and brandishing a knife in Queens Road in June – although said this was a table knife and part of a cutlery set he kept on him as he is street homeless.
Addressing the bench, he said: “I’m sorry for all this. Before I could get a train ticket and get on a train, they arrested me.
“I have just been playing the piano. Just ban me from the station completely.”
Defending, Ed Fish said: “He would go to play the piano, specifically for that purpose, and it was decided that he was causing a nuisance there and eventually a criminal behaviour order was made.
“He has struggled with complying with that order.
“On one of these breaches, he had been assaulted quite badly – there’s a video of him being beaten up by Churchill Square, where he’s allowed to go.
“He walks up from there to go to the medical centre by the station in Queens Road. He shouldn’t have tried to go there but in his mind that’s where he’s trying to go.”
Mr Fish said Denyer is currently still sleeping rough, but has been offered supported accommodation in Portslade starting in two weeks.
He said he is also engaging well, saying: “He’s been street homeless since last getting out of prison but hes been managing to get to appointments with probation and Change Grow Live (substance abuse treatment).
“A round table meeting with Mr Denyer and staff from Southern Rail and British Transport Police has also been arranged.”
Chair of the bench Harry Callaghan said: “In relation to the bladed article, we take into account you had a spoon and a fork but you weren’t brandishing a spoon – you were brandishing the knife.
“We have noted this isn’t the first time [you’ve been convicted of having an offensive weapon]. There has been some considerable time passing but you did cause the public alarm and if I was there I would have been alarmed and I would have called police as well.”
He gave Denyer six month prison sentence, suspended for 12 months, and ordered him to complete up to 15 rehabilitation requirement days and six months of mental health treatment.
He added: “As regarding that piano, you need to walk straight through the gate and get straight to where you need to be.
“I imagine you are quite good, but don’t play that piano.”
Why do they have a piano if people are not allowed to play it?
They can play it, but I think you will find he is banned from station unless getting a train.
Out of tune I think
Seems entertaining the public is frowned upon by the authorities
How mean not to let him play the piano! It probably gives him joy and there seems to be precious little of that in his life.
Let him play, miseries! I am 77 and love to hear live music, good or bad. My son started playing at 4 even though none of us played. He started on a children’s toy telling me he had to do some of the notes in his head. He now teaches guitar and keyboard.
The Piano on Channel 4 plays at The Station-there not boarding the Train ( but gets permission no doubt)
He proberly is annoying to Passengers and Staff.
How is he struggling to comply with the order-he knows right from wrong.
The article is suggesting it was more to do with the procession of a potentially threatening weapon (a knife), drug-addled behaviours, and non-compliance with lawful orders.
I think the piano here is immaterial, but is rather being tactically used by the defender to evoke an emotional response of pity.
He’s an absolute menace. Yet another wasted human that should be put to work, say a farm in the middle of nowhere and actually give something back to society. If you’ve ever had the displeasure of meeting him he is usually off his face being aggressive to people, all paid for by the tax payer
The homophobic abuse is funny considering he’s known to give it up to absolutely anyone for a bit of $
He knows exactly how to manipulative the system , he’s a professional antagonist, never has to grow up and take responsibility for himself,
Toby’s piano playing is of a very high standard as I’ve heard him he has the right to play it as much as everyone else instead of picking on Toby why doesn’t the station management do something about the state of their mens ‘ toilets Everytime you go in there , there’s piss all over the floors in the cubicles while the cleaners there instead of doing the job they’re paid to do are standing about talking