A DRUNKEN nuisance who keeps breaching an anti-social behaviour order was last night beginning his fortieth prison sentence.

John Newman, 36, was made the subject of the order by Durham magistrates in June last year for persistently appearing drunk in the city centre before calling out emergency services for no reason.

He breached the order five times in a year, receiving steadily longer terms of imprisonment.

Newman, formerly of New Brancepeth, near Durham, appeared before the city's crown court yesterday after being convicted of a further three breaches of the order.

The court heard that within five days of his release from his previous prison sentence, in July, he breached the order a further three times.

Chris Williamson, prosecuting, said each time he was seen drunk in Durham, on one occasion calling out an ambulance when he was unhurt.

Sentence on Newman was adjourned recently pending preparation of reports by a psychologist and the probation service.

After reading both reports yesterday, Judge Guy Whitburn QC said the psychologist did not believe there was anything the mental health services could do for Newman.

Don MacFaul, mitigating, said: "He recognises he must change his lifestyle or it may kill him, directly or indirectly."

Jailing him for a total of 19 months, Judge Whitburn told Newman: "There's only you who can change. You cost this country an absolute fortune by means of your anti-social behaviour."