A MAN given six months in custody for breaching an anti-social behaviour order has been told he must serve the rest of the sentence.

The 26-week term in a young offenders’ institution was imposed by Newton Aycliffe magistrates earlier this month after Callum Lewis Brown admitting breaching the two-year order.

Durham Crown Court heard it was put in place by magistrates in March last year because of his history of abusive and intimidating behaviour in his home town of Spennymoor, County Durham.

Rachael Brown, for the Crown, said the latest breach, his fourth, arose after Brown went into Ladbrokes betting shop in the town’s High Street, to play on a gambling machine, at 10.30am on March 9.

As he was previously barred from the premises a member of staff asked him to leave, but he refused saying he had, "money in the machine”.

The manager repeated the request, saying he could first collect his money, but he began shouting abusively at her, banging on the counter, to the alarm of both staff and customers.

He was paid the £10.40 he was owed, but continued the abuse and only left after being told the police had been called.

Miss Brown said staff feared he was going to leap the counter to attack them.

Twenty-year-old Brown, of Briar Close, Spennymoor, was arrested on March 13 and told police the staff were, “making mountains out of mole-hills”.

But, having admitted the breach, he was sentenced by the magistrates on March 14.

Brown appealed against the length of the sentence at the crown court today (March 27).

His barrister, Louise Harrison, conceded his position was aggravated by his record and the number of breaches, but she told the court he had complied with the conditions for the preceding three months.

“He accepts making a bad decision by going into Ladbrokes that day, but he did not intend causing any trouble and wishes to apologise to the staff.

“He tells me he has learned his lesson after spending a short period in custody.”

Brown also addressed the court, apologising for his actions, and pledged to remain trouble-free as he wants to concentrate on helping to look after his young child.

But, Recorder Jonathan Bennett, sitting with two magistrates, rejected the appeal, adding that the bench at Newton Aycliffe, “could not have been criticised if they had imposed a longer sentence.”