A CHRONIC alcoholic made perverted phone calls to a range of women including hospital and police staff, a court was told.

Brian Humble, 44, used vulgar language as he made lewd suggestions to the women, said Janet Coxon, prosecuting.

His victims include hospital staff, Durham police call handlers, a barmaid and a Chester-le-Street council receptionist - who were left feeling frightened and disgusted.

Consett Magistrates' Court heard that jobless Humble, a confessed chronic alcoholic, had no memory of making the calls.

Ms Coxon said Humble targeted one woman working alone at the University Hospital of North Durham.

She said: "She found it threatening and disturbing. She said it made her skin crawl."

Humble's behaviour was so sinister a barmaid at a Chester-le-Street pub said she feared she could be attacked by a stalker.

Ms Coxon added: "She said it made her physically sick. It has shaken her up and she was scared about coming into work."

Several women expressed concerns about what Humble would do if he met them in person.

Humble, from Redheugh Court, Gateshead, previously admitted six specimen charges of making indecent phone calls between May 1 and September 16 last year.

When arrested, he told police he made the calls but "did not mean any harm".

Nick Musgrove, mitigating, said: "The defendant suffers from a deep rooted alcohol problem and has mild learning difficulties.

Humble was handed a three year criminal Asbo, banning him from calling emergency services without good reason and making indecent phone calls. He was also sentenced to a three year community supervision order and ordered to pay £45 in costs.