Seven appear in court after breaches of Great Yarmouth's new anti-social behaviour order

Five were fined after being found guilty and two had their hearings adjourned in cases brought by Great Yarmouth Borough Council. The PSPO was introduced earlier this year by the council and includes a range of tougher powers to tackle anti-social behaviour across the borough.

At Great Yarmouth Magistrates' Court Ross Lawrence, 38, appeared via video link from Norwich Prison and admitted three breaches of the order. He told the court he was a homeless alcoholic at the time of the offences.

He was given credit for his guilty plea before magistrates sentenced him to a £50 fine to be taken out of benefits on his last day of prison, no costs were awarded due to insufficient means.

Michael Ball, 54, of no fixed abode, was fined £200 and ordered to pay £200 towards costs and an £80 surcharge for breaching the order. He was told by magistrates that if he appeared before them again for the same offence he would be dealt with more harshly.

Gary Simm, Samantha Milton and Carl Dighton were all convicted in their absence for breaching the order. Simm, 56, of Nelson Road Central in Great Yarmouth, was fined £320 and ordered to pay costs of £200 as well as a victim surcharge of £120.

Milton, 32, and of no fixed abode, and Dighton, 50, of Nelson Road South in Great Yarmouth, were both fined £300 and ordered to pay costs of £200 and a victim surcharge of £120.

The case against Barry Turner, 53, of no fixed abode, was adjourned until October 3 and the case against Jack Ward, of Paget Road, Great Yarmouth, was adjourned until January 23.

The council introduced the PSPO following a major public consultation last year when residents said feeling safe and the cleanliness of the town centre were among their top priorities.

The order covers the whole borough and outlaws public drinking of alcohol, begging, urinating in public, spitting and riding bikes or e-scooters on paths.

Councillor Paul Wells, Great Yarmouth Borough Council's portfolio holder for Environment and Sustainability, Licensing and Waste, said: ''As these prosecutions demonstrate, we are determined to do all we can to deal effectively with anti-social behaviour.

''Our residents made it clear they wanted tougher action to deal with the small minority of people whose unacceptable behaviour has a negative impact on the lives of others. Our borough is a home, a place of work and a holiday and leisure destination and we are working hard to make a welcoming environment for everyone.

''We won't tolerate highly visible street drinking and people feeling intimidated by anti-social behaviour. We will continue to bring prosecutions against the small number of people who choose to continue to breach this order and will push for the strongest possible sanctions and this PSPO is just one tool available.''

There are prominent signs to alert people to the order with graphics and links to make the signage accessible for all. The anti-social behaviour order lasts for three years and has been accompanied by a range of support services for people to access.