VAGRANT Gary Cooper was made the subject of a one year anti-social behaviour order at Cardiff and Vale Magistrates Court yesterday (November 21).

Under the terms of the order, which follows an application by South Wales Police, the 50-year-old must not be in possession of an open alcohol container within the area defined as Cardiff, Penarth and Barry.

He is also prohibited from entering any licensed premises within the area defined while under the influence of alcohol; and must not urinate in a public place, or abuse members of the public or police officers.

The court heard that he has been made the subject of several previous Asbos, and since his last one in December 2011, he has been involved with South Wales Police on 49 occasions.

Solicitor Declan McSorley, for Cooper, said he is a chronic alcoholic and a diagnosed schizophrenic.

He added that despite being ‘chronically homeless’ he was currently staying at the Tadross Hotel in Barry, and had previously been living in the doorway of Tels, now known as Eclipse, in Penarth.

A police officer, speaking on behalf of South Wales Police, told the court that Cooper was a ‘public nuisance’ and that the ‘protection of the public is a priority’.

District Judge Martin Brown said that Cooper’s alcoholism ‘manifested itself in anti-social behaviour’.

He added: "There are certain amounts of sympathy and empathy for his circumstances, but the protection of the public is a priority and I have made an order which I believe is realistic and is capable of being understood and enforced."

The order will expire on December 16, 2013.