Hospital staff have been offered some relief by the jailing of a drunken, drug-abusing nuisance.

Andrew Callan, described as a thorn in the side of the accident and emergency department staff at Durham's University Hospital, was jailed for 18 months.

Durham Crown Court heard the 21-year-old broke an anti-social behaviour order by pestering and threatening casualty staff, while drunk and under the influence of drugs, just four days after his release from prison.

The court was told that the two-year order was imposed by Durham magistrates in March, after a series of complaints and police call-outs over his behaviour at the hospital and other incidents at town centres across the county.

The order said he must not go to hospitals unless in need of treatment, or having been referred by a GP.

Having twice breached the order with similar offending, Callan served a two-month jail term, which finished early last month.

Within four days, security staff were summoned by a receptionist in accident and emergency frightened by Callan's threatening and abusive manner, demanding treatment, at 2.30am.

Chris Morrison, prosecuting, said Callan appeared highly agitated and refused pleas to calm down.

Police were called and he was arrested. When interviewed, he said there was no real reason why he went to the hospital.

Jonathan Walker, for Callan, said psychiatric reports revealed he had an entrenched personality disorder, with an explosive trait.

But he said it was not considered something which could be dealt with by mental health treatment.

Mr Walker said that despite making repeated unpleasant remarks, Callan had never carried out any of the threats, all uttered while affected by drink or drugs.

Callan, of Front Street, Coxhoe, near Durham, admitted threatening and abusive behaviour and breaking the behaviour order.

Judge Michael Cartlidge said staff and patients needed some relief from his actions.