A SERIAL offender has been slapped with a Criminal Behaviour Order which bans him from being drunk in Northwich.

Twenty-six-year-old Craig Howman, of Stones Manor Lane in Hartford, was given the order by magistrates following multiple public order offences.

Handing down the punishment, the bench at Chester Magistrates Court heard that Howman had been in contact with police officers 19 times in the past year, with most incidents relating to drugs or alcohol.

The order will run for two years, and prevents Howman from being drunk in any public place in Northwich.

He is also banned from causing harassment, alarm or distress to members of the public, which means he cannot swear in public or to anyone, including emergency services.

A further requirement involves drug and alcohol rehabilitation.

If Howman is found to have broken the order in any way he risks being detained in custody.

PC Neil Wharmby said: “Criminal Behaviour Orders are preventative measures. They are made to prevent the individual from committing offences to protect the community from further harm being caused.

“In the case of this Howman has shown little consideration at all for other people, and despite having had multiple opportunities to change his behaviour, he has failed to do so, leaving us with no option but to apply for a court order.

“Applying for court orders is always the last resort, but the public of Northwich should be allowed to go about their daily business without having to be subject to offensive behaviour from people who simply cannot behave in a reasonable manner.”