A Darlington man who breached an anti-social behaviour order will be sentenced at crown court.

Andrew Lawson, 24, admitted the offence when he appeared before magistrates in Newton Aycliffe yesterday.

Peter Smith, prosecuting, said Lawson was seen sitting outside a door in sheltered accommodation in Havelock Street, Darlington.

Lawson, of North Road, was shouting and had frightened an elderly resident. He swore several times at a warden who approached him, so police were called.

The offence was the latest in a number of breaches of a three-year anti-social behaviour order imposed in February last year.

Lawson told magistrates he had just started a job and on the morning of the arrest, he had been painting as part of his work.

He said: "I got paint in my hair, so I got some scissors and I used the glass in the window of the door to see while I cut my hair."

He said he was approached by a man he did not know who swore at him, so he swore back.

He said: "If he had said he was the warden of the place and asked me to move on, I would have."

Magistrates said the case should be transferred to crown court for sentencing. An application for bail was refused and Lawson was remanded in custody.

Lawson denied breaching a community rehabilitation order. That case was adjourned to August 13.