PENARTH vagrant Gary Cooper has once again been banned from the town centre for what police have described as ‘constant drunken and aggressive behaviour’.

The persistent troublemaker has been issued with a two-year Anti-Social Behaviour Order (ASBO) and is banned from entering Penarth town centre whilst intoxicated or in possession of alcohol.

The order also includes an exclusion zone around the town that is bordered by the junction of High Street and Plassey Street, Albert Road, Windsor Terrace, Church Road, Rectory Road, Stanwell Road to the junction of Hickman Road, and Railway Terrace to the junction with Windsor Road.

Under the terms of his ASBO, the 47-year-old is forbidden from purchasing alcohol within this area and is forbidden from encouraging or inciting another person to purchase or attempt to purchase alcohol.

Vale of Glamorgan Anti Social behaviour Coordinator PC Mike Hawkes said: “I am aware that Cooper is well known to the community of Penarth to a point where he has become almost a permanent fixture.

“Although Cooper has been arrested on several occasions and convicted of offences, he is not deterred from conducting himself in an anti-social manner. "He has continued to cause harassment, alarm and distress to the local community in Penarth with his constant drunken and aggressive behaviour.  "It was therefore felt necessary to apply for the Anti Social Behaviour Order to protect the wider community from further acts of anti social behaviour by him.”

Cooper, who set up home in a bus stop on Lavernock Road earlier this year, was banned from entering a similar exclusion zone in Penarth in July 2007, after committing a string of public order offences.

He was sentenced to 120 days behind bars in November 2007, after breaching that order for a fourth time.

Penarth sector acting Inspector Steve Trigg added: “Cooper’s behaviour is unacceptable and portrays a negative image of Penarth town centre to people who work in and visit the town.

“These people can now enjoy walking around the centre without fear of being harassed or intimidated.

"I would particularly like to thank the businesses in the town for their support in dealing with Cooper.”

Councillor Paul Church, Chairman of the Safer Vale Partnership, added: "This positive action in securing the two-year ASBO demonstrates the Safer Partnership is tackling anti-social behaviour within our communities and is getting tough on those people who, like Cooper, display this type of behaviour.”

If anyone is aware of Gareth Cooper breaching his Anti Social Behaviour order, they should contact Penarth Police station on 029 20 222 111 or Crimestoppers on 0800 555 111.