AN alcoholic has been banned from Worcester city centre for two years after he was involved in 25 incidents in six months.

Graham Higgins, aged 44, of no fixed abode, cannot enter the area including Angel Street, part of the High Street, the Shambles, Shrub Hill retail park, and St Martin’s Quarter, under the terms of his criminal anti-social behaviour order (Crasbo).

On Tuesday, May 6, Worcester Magistrates Court heard how Higgins had been involved in 25 incidents between August 2013 and January 2014 when he came to the attention of the police for being drunk and for causing alarm, harassment and distress to the public.

These included incidents of begging for money, spitting, committing assaults, swearing, and sleeping in doorways.

On one occasion he tried to sleep on a bench in the front counter of Worcester police station in Castle Street and had to be ejected from the building.

PC Paul Wanklyn, of the city centre Safer Neighbourhoods Team, said: “Since January, Higgins has only come to the attention of the police three times.

“Higgins is currently living in Solihull and although it is acknowledged he has improved significantly in the last couple of months, we feel that a CRASBO is still necessary to protect people, should he return to or visit Worcester.”

The order also prohibits him from consuming alcohol or being in possession of an open container of alcohol in any place being a designated alcohol free zone, where consumption is prohibited by law.

If Higgins breaches the CRASBO he could face up to five years in jail.

He can only enter the restricted area to attend the Probation Office on Shaw Street or the walk-in medical centre in Farrier Street, with a pre-arranged appointment.

At an earlier hearing in January, the court gave Higgins a six-month conditional discharge for a public order offence, relating to an incident in which he was found asleep in a pedestrianised area and swore when told by police to move on.