A man who was banned from drinking alcohol around King's Lynn bus station has been jailed for six months after he repeatedly breached the ban.

Eastern Daily Press: Paul Pentelow has been handed a Criminal Behaviour Order (CBO). Photo: Norfolk Constabulary.Paul Pentelow has been handed a Criminal Behaviour Order (CBO). Photo: Norfolk Constabulary. (Image: Norfolk Constabulary.)

Paul Pentelow, 39, who was branded a 'persistent nuisance' by Judge Katharine Moore, had been given a three-year criminal behaviour order because of his involvement in a number of anti-social incidents in the town over the past 12 months.

Under the order Pentelow was banned from having any open or opened container of alcohol in the area around King's Lynn bus station, Sainsbury's car park and the Vancouver Centre.

Pentelow, of no fixed abode, was also banned from entering the area, which was outlined on a map.

But Norwich Crown Court heard that just three days after the order was imposed by magistrates in June, Pentelow was spotted flouting the restrictions by being seen with an open container of alcohol in his hand.

Mark Roochove, prosecuting, said Pentelow breached the order on six occasions by ignoring the drinking ban and also committed a further breach by stealing a can of alcohol from Sainsbury's,

Pentelow, who admitted being in breach of his criminal behaviour order, had 103 convictions for 170 offences, most of which are related to his drinking.

Jailing him, Judge Katharine Moore told him: 'You are a persistent nuisance. You are costing a very great deal both in terms of financial resources and in terms of the strain you are placing on everyone that has to deal with you.'

She said all kinds of help had been offered to Pentelow in the past but despite this he had continued to offend.

'You have a long very sorry history of alcoholism.'

She hoped he would try to make a fresh start and stop his drinking and said: 'It is time for you to start thinking more positively to a future away from alcohol and from the criminal justice system.'

Charles Kellett, for Pentelow, said he had been homeless at the time and the order had set him up to fail.

However since Pentelow had been remanded in prison he had managed to get a job working in the kitchen and was now wanting to stay off alcohol and move away from King's Lynn and relocate to Wisbech.

He said: 'He realises he needs help.'