A BARROW alcoholic who has been banned from drinking in public has been jailed after breaching his order the day he was released from prison.

Graham Colin Parker was released from prison on January 2 after being jailed for breaching a criminal behaviour order which was imposed in May 2019.

The court heard Parker, of Low White Close, had been jailed for 16 weeks in September after breaching the order for the third and fourth times since it was imposed.

The order bans the 56-year-old from being drunk in a public place, other than when in licensed premises, and being drunk in Cartmel Crescent.

He was arrested the same day after being found drunk in public and appeared from custody at South Cumbria Magistrates' Court on January 3.

Parker, who was defended in court by Mike Graham of Forresters Solicitors, pleaded guilty to breaching a criminal behaviour order.

He was jailed for 16 weeks and ordered to pay a £122 surcharge.

Magistrates said the offence warranted a custodial sentence because Parker has 'a flagrant disregard for court orders' and the latest offence represented a 'continuation of a sequence of breaching court orders of which he has a significant history'.

They also highlighted his 'significant record of criminal convictions' and said the fact the offence was committed while he was on post-custodial licence was an aggravating factor.

Community Inspector Jim Bailey described Parker as 'a persistent offender who we continually have to deal with which takes away resources to those that genuinely require the help of officers'.

“Criminal Behaviour Orders are a useful tool available to the courts which can help the offender to cease further criminality and help protect residents," he said.

“I would encourage anyone who witnesses the terms of such a court order being broken to contact the police immediately.

The punishment for breaking the terms of a Criminal Behaviour Order can be up to five years in prison.”