A MAN who became the spokesperson for a homeless protest group at Chester's Hamilton House last October faces a month-long wait to see if he will be banned from the city for five years.

Wayne Lammond, 34, has been remanded in custody since first appearing at Chester Magistrates Court on Monday, January 13, charged with possession with intent to supply £1,300 worth of the class B drug spice.

But while Lammond pleaded guilty at Chester Crown Court on Monday, February 10 to that offence, which happened on September 23, 2019 near the Greyhound Retail Park, police have also applied to ban Lammond from the city for five years as part of a Criminal behaviour Order (CBO).

Phil Clemo, defending Lammond, explained to Miss Recorder Sarah Johnston the defendant needed more time to look at the proposed order as there were aspects in there which were disputed.

He explained that, as Lammond was currently at HMP Altcourse, the paperwork associated with the CBO could not be left with the defendant as part of a wider security clampdown, amid the risk of paper contaminated with spice being smuggled into cells.

An adjournment, Mr Clemo suggested, would give the defence more time to have a longer appointment and would allow witnesses who could assist the defence against what he described as a "pretty draconian" CBO, "banning him from the town in which he lives".

Mr Clemo said some aspects of the order may have arisen "as a result of [Lammond] being a 'thorn in the local establishment's side'", making reference to the number of times Lammond and members of the homeless community had moved into a succession of empty buildings under squatters' rights last autumn, until being moved on.

They were protesting about a perceived lack of housing support from Cheshire West and Chester Council (CWaC) and from the 24/7 support hub at Hamilton House run by council contractor forfutures.

Judge Johnston said there was some concern in relation to the CBO as a local councillor had provided a reference in favour of Lammond's conduct, while the police had said that same behaviour had amounted to misconduct.

The judge agreed the sentencing of the case should be heard at the same time as the application for the CBO, in front of the same judge, and adjourned the case to March 13.

Lammond was remanded in custody in the meantime.