A HOMELESS alcoholic returned from a holiday on the sunshine isle of Ibiza to be banned from the town centre he plagues.

Terence Elliot told magistrates he was due to fly out to the Canary Islands and a hearing for an Anti-Social Behaviour Order (Asbo) was postponed until he returned. But yesterday, he was not present in court for the hearing.

The 30-year-old is a well-known ringleader of a group of six drunks begging outside stores in Middlesbrough.

An interim Asbo had been granted in June.

Acting Inspector Simon Edwards told the court: "They start drinking around 9am and are found sprawled over town centre benches. Employees making their way to work are forced to step over them as they sleep in doorways. There are sometimes up to 20 people in the group causing problems."

Magistrates granted a two-year Asbo, banning Elliot from the town centre.

He also must not congregate in a group of three or more people, beg for money, be verbally abusive, drink alcohol in public or behave in a manner which causes harassment, alarm or distress.

An exclusion zone, bounded by Marton Road, Borough Road, Hartington Road and the A66, was imposed.