A judge says he is reluctant to jail a chronic alcohol who persistently breaches Durham's first anti-social behaviour order.

John Newman, 32, formerly of New Brancepeth, has breached the four-year order five times since it was imposed in June 2000.

It bans Newman from visiting Durham city centre when he is drunk, from drinking in public or visiting pubs and off-licences, and making false 999 calls.

He has already been jailed for breaching it _ his latest sentence was for 19 months _ but each times he comes out he breaks it again, sometimes within hours.

In the latest incident, in June, he was arrested after he was caught on CCTV drinking a can of lager on a bench in the city's bus station.

Judge Anthony Briggs told Durham Crown Court the maximum sentence was five years.

But he added: "I'm somewhat reluctant to keep locking him up because it doesn't look as if anything is being achieved.

"All one can look forward to is him getting set free, having a drink and being locked up again. It is not very satisfactory.''

The judge added that the resources to help Newman were not available in prison. Newman's barrister Sarah Holmes said: "His offending is due solely to his chronic alcohol problem.

"He will co-operate with any help but he hasn't been offered any one to one director treatment in prison.''

She added: "It's a vicious circle of breaching an order that an alcoholic is bound to breach.''

Newman, of no fixed abode, is being held on remand after admitting breaching the order. North Durham Magistrates committed the case to the Crown Court for sentence.

Judge Briggs adjourned sentence until next week to see if the probation service could arrange accommodation and treatment.

The court had previously ordered preparation of a psychiatric report to assess his suitability for a hospital order.

Prosecutor David Wilkinson said that when officers went to the bus station Newman, who had earlier been recorded hiding a can of lager in his jacket, tried to hide his drink under the bench.

He initially denied breaching the order but changed his plea to guilty.