A PERSISTENT drunk was yesterday made the subject of the North-East's toughest Anti-Social Behaviour Order (Asbo).

Charles Rush, 49, of no fixed address, from the Seaham area, was placed on a ten-year Asbo, restricting his behaviour in the whole of England and Wales.

Stephen Mooney, on behalf of Durham Constabulary, told Peterlee Magistrates yesterday: "This is the most persistent case of anti-social behaviour I have dealt with. It is the worst case I have known."

Mr Mooney told the court how an interim order had been imposed on Rush, a chronic alcoholic, on May 10, which he breached just two days later.

The court was told that, for a period of at least 15 years, he had shown no willingness to mend his ways.

An Asbo had been imposed on him in March 2002 until March 2005 - an order he breached 15 times, mainly by being drunk and disorderly, and a number of occasions for the misuse of 999 calls.

Asking for the Asbo to cover the whole of England and Wales, Mr Mooney described how Rush had been involved in drink-related incidents in Newcastle on 13 occasions, in Sunderland on 15, in Teesside on two and once in Wales.

And, in the light of his persistent breaches, Mr Mooney asked the court to impose a ten-year order.

Appearing on behalf of Rush, Mr Jaxon Taylor opposed both the length of the order and the England and Wales jurisdiction.

Mr Taylor said it was not necessary to include such a wide area and the ten-year order would see him under the restrictions of the Asbo until he was 65.

But Mr Mooney said Rush was in the habit of travelling "and wherever he travels he misbehaves".

The magistrates imposed the ten-year order covering England and Wales, where Rush will be subject to drinking prohibitions.

Speaking after the case, PC Mick Hayton, Asbo officer for the northern area of Durham Constabulary, revealed that Rush had 219 previous convictions, 147 of which were for being drunk and disorderly.

"This order is meant to bring some peace to the public," said PC Hayton.