A WOMAN who is said to have made life “extremely unpleasant” for people in Darlington town centre has been given an interim Anti-Social Behaviour Order (ASBO).

The order was granted against Marianne Cullerton by Darlington Magistrates’ Court and will remain in place until the council applies for a full injunction following new powers which come in to force on Monday (March23).

The 31-year-old, who has more than 110 convictions and has committed in excess of 270 offences, has verbally abused and intimidated businesses and visitors to Darlington town centre, as well as groups attending events in St Cuthbert’s Church yard.

She has also spat and verbally abused ambulance crews called to assist her.

The ASBO will prevent her from entering St Cuthbert’s Church yard, the Dolphin Centre, and the European food store on Stonebridge.

She will also be banned from using using or inciting others to use threatening, insulting, abusive words or behaviour in any public place, and cannot drink alcohol or be in possession of alcohol while in public.

Leader of Darlington Borough Council, Bill Dixon, said: “Seeking an Anti-Social Behaviour Order against someone is not a decision we take lightly.

“We prefer to work with an individual and help solve the issues that lead to disruptive behaviour but in this instance the catalogue of problems she has caused left us no alternative.

“She has taken up taken up unnecessary police and NHS time due to her alcohol fuelled abusive behaviour and made life extremely unpleasant for many people in the town centre.”