Homeless Daniel Merriman convicted by Southampton magistrates for abusing people in Ringwood

A MAN has been sentenced for hurling “vile” verbal abuse at vulnerable members of the public in Ringwood.

Daniel Merriman (37), of no fixed abode but formerly from the New Forest, committed the offences on 15th August last year.

Appearing at Southampton Magistrates' Court, he pleaded guilty to two counts of using threatening or abusive words or behaviour to cause harassment, alarm or distress to two people.

Handing him a three-month prison sentence, suspended for 18 months, the Bench said the incidents were “serious cases of verbal abuse on vulnerable people” that were “unprovoked and vile”.

He was handed a five-year restraining order banning him from contacting the victims and from going to the town’s Meetinghouse Lane and Sainsbury’s until November 2025.

The defendant must also undertake up to 20 rehabilitation days and pay each victim £200.