A street drinker who was "regularly abusive to shoppers, business owners and officers" has been slapped with a criminal behaviour order.

Homeless Craig Rumens, 55, has a number of convictions which are said to be linked to his addiction to alcohol.

He has become a "familiar face for all the wrong reasons" to the police in Folkestone town centre.

Rumens is now not allowed to have open alcohol in public in Shepway, except when on a licensed premises.

He cannot be drunk or drink alcohol in any public place within Shepway, except again, when he is on a licensed premises and is not allowed to act in a way that causes harassment, alarm or distress to residents.

He can only enter Folkestone town centre to visit a specific location by pre-arranged appointment only.

This comes after he was arrested "on a number of occasions" in December for his drunken and abusive behaviour.

The first incident happened on Thursday, December 8 following a report that he had been swearing and making sexual gestures to people at a business in Sandgate Road.

The following day he was drunk and abusive to staff at Shepway District Council's HQ, the Civic Centre, and again made sexual gestures.

He returned on Friday, December 16 and intimidated workers by shouting, swearing and singing. He also kicked a chair over.

Rumens was arrested again on Wednesday, December 28 when he fell asleep inside a doctor’s surgery and was abusive when asked to leave.

He was subsequently charged with a number of public order offences, which he pleaded guilty to when he appeared before Thanet magistrates for sentencing on Friday.

In addition to receiving the criminal behaviour order, he was also ordered to undergo treatment for his alcoholism.

The criminal behaviour order was introduced by the government in October 2014 as part of the Antisocial Behaviour, Crime and Policing Act, with the intention of providing simpler, more effective powers to tackle anti-social behaviour.

Issued by the courts after a conviction for a criminal offence, it bans an individual from certain activities or places and can also require them to address their behaviour.

A breach of the order, which in Rumens’ case lasts for five years, can result in a prison term of up to five years.

PC John Weller said: "Craig Rumens has become a familiar face in Folkestone town centre for all the wrong reasons.

"He is regularly abusive to shoppers, business owners and police officers and does not appear to be able to act in a civilised manner when under the influence of alcohol.

"I am pleased the court has seen fit to issue Rumens with a criminal behaviour order and hope he uses the restrictions placed upon him effectively and as a way of addressing his issues with alcohol to turn his life around."