A PERSISTENT offender with more than 150 convictions has been warned he could face jail.

Sedgefield Magistrates' Court was told yesterday how 49-year-old John Rientoul has repeatedly been arrested for drunken and disorderly behaviour in the Crook and Bishop Auckland areas.

Yesterday, he became the first person in the Wear Valley area to become the subject of an Anti-Social Behaviour Order which will be in force for five years.

Last night, Inspector George Osborne, of Bishop Auckland police, praised the decision.

He said: "This restricts his behaviour so if he does it again he would be in breach of the order and brought before the courts again and, yes, he could possibly face a custodial sentence."

The court heard how Rientoul, of no fixed address, had often harassed people on the street and subjected them to foul and abusive language.

Staff at Bishop Auckland Hospital, Crook Library and Bishopgate Medical Centre, Bishop Auckland, had also been intimidated by his behaviour, with police often being called after he refused to leave, the court heard.

Insp Osborne said: "He has often done these things under the influence of drink and on occasions has used violence.

"He has been arrested and been through the courts and it seems to have had no affect, so something had to be done."

Insp Osborne is also chairman of the Anti-Social Behaviour Panel, which has been operating in Wear Valley for more than a year.

He sits on the panel with members of social services, the probation service, mental health services and Wear Valley District Council, among others.

The panel looks at cases where people have repeatedly been arrested because of their anti-social behaviour and decides whether they should be made the subject of an order.

Because of the order, Mr Rientoul is prevented from being drunk or drinking in public. It also stops him from going on medical premises unless in an emergency or if he has a prior appointment.

Insp Osborne said the order meant that police could now arrest Mr Rientoul if he was found drunk and disorderly, instead of simply moving him along.

He said: "People who work in public places deserve to carry out their duties in peace.''