A MAN who repeatedly breaches his Asbo by getting drunk in Hull and the East Riding has been spared jail as a Christmas gift.

John Bernard Martindale, 65, breached his anti-social behaviour order for the 11th time by drinking in public places on August 14 and October 6 last year.

Last year Recorder Henry Prosser deferred sentencing him at Hull Crown Court for six months to see if he could keep out of trouble.

This week court heard Martindale has stayed out of trouble and as a Christmas gift the judge spared him jail.

But Recorder Prosser warned him he must stay out of trouble by not getting drunk.

He told Martindale: "I'm very pleased that there have been no further breaches of the Asbo. It is very much in your interest to cooperate with the Probation Service. I am also pleased you are grateful to them for the time which they have given you.

"I'm sentencing you to a community order and you will receive visits to your home to ensure everything is going properly and you are behaving yourself.

"You have to do your best to carry on not to get drunk and particularly not to get drunk in public because that's what leads you into trouble.

"You are going to have to come back to the court every four weeks. Just be thankful you have not been locked up and this is a Christmas present for you."

Martindale has been sentenced to a 12-month community order with a supervision requirement and ordered to attend an alcohol treatment programme.

Martindale, of Ings Road, east Hull, told the judge: "By the time I finish this it will be Christmas again."