Drunk man who staggered in Hollywood Bowl and left toddler without nappy fined

07 December 2023 , 15:07

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Luke Rippingale admitting being drunk in charge of a child (Image: EDP / SWNS)

A man who has admitting being too drunk to care for a toddler when he staggered around a Hollywood Bowl with a pint in his hand has narrowly avoided jail.

Luke Rippingale was seen staggering around the bowling alley in Norwich while a two-year-old girl in his care was left crying on the floor with no nappy. He was arrested at the venue at the manager called the police, who also took the child into their care.

Rippingale, 41, an MOT garage owner pleaded guilty to being drunk in charge of a child, following the incident on August 20. Today he was sentenced to a one-year community order at Norwich Magistrates' Court. Chair of the magistrates Mr Jackson told him he would also have to undergo alcohol abstinence monitoring until March next year.

Prosecutor Nicola Lamb told magistrates: “He was staggering around and dribbling and he had left the child on the floor. He beckoned the child to him but she refused to leave and was upset. The manager was so concerned that they called the police who took both him and the child into custody.”

Rippingale, from Ely in Cambridgeshire, was so drunk that he had been refused entry to the Queen of Iceni pub, the court was told. He had been returning from visiting a friend in Great Yarmouth when he had decided to continue drinking while waiting for a connecting train.

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Ms Lamb said: “Very foolishly he had not waited at the train station. He was clearly under the influence at the time when he should have been looking after the child. There is absolutely nothing more he can say other than to apologise. He takes full responsibility.”

Ordering a pre-sentence review, magistrates told him “all options” were open including custody. The charges carried the possibility of one month’s imprisonment. He had been on unconditional bail ahead of his sentencing. He was given 15 days of rehabilitation on the community order - and ordered to pay a £230 fine, £105 costs and victim surcharge of £114.

Kelly-Ann Mills