The first person in the region to be made the subject of an anti-social behaviour order is due to appear in court for allegedly breaching it.

Ashley Jones, 44, of Newcastle, was one of the first people in the country to be placed under the new order in December 1999.

Jones, otherwise known as Hussein Mohammed Jazwi, was banned from contacting former girlfriend Haleema Abdullah, or from going within 100m of her home in Hazel Grove, South Shields,

But he was arrested in December last year for allegedly breaching the order when he visited Miss Abdullah at her home. She was not there and Jones was arrested.

He denies committing any offence, and will face trial at Newcastle Crown Court on May 12. The maximum penalty for breaching the order is five years imprisonment.