A prolific criminal with a string of 50 convictions will be re-housed in Maidstone when he leaves prison later this month.

John Abbotts, 51, is well known in Tunbridge Wells, where he was the first person to receive a criminal behaviour order (CBO) in July.

Last Monday he appeared at Sevenoaks Magistrates’ Court accused of breaching the CBO by being drunk in the Tunbridge Wells alcohol control zone.

But despite his colourful past, Abbotts was not given another custodial sentence.

Instead, he was given a one-year conditional discharge – meaning he will not be sentenced unless he commits another crime within that period – as his lawyer revealed Abbotts was ready to turn his life around.

Defending, James Ketteringham said Abbotts’ life of crime was a result of homelessness and poor mental health, adding: “He began drinking to get to sleep on the streets and became dependent.”

Mr Ketteringham said a place was being secured for his client at Lily Smith House in Knightrider Street, supported accommodation run by social housing provider Riverside, hopefully in time for his release from prison on Friday.

He said the stable environment would allow Abbotts to “build up a productive life”.

Sarah Worsley, for the Crown Prosection Service, said that on Friday, September 11, police were called to Grosvenor Road after fears a fight was about to break out. They discovered Abbotts, who lived in Snodland until recently, drinking in the alcohol control zone.

Mr Ketteringham said Abbotts, who was brought into the dock from his prison cell, had been released from custody that day and had travelled to Tunbridge Wells to meet his probation team and then some friends, not realising he was inside the control zone.

Abbotts was jailed for 28 days last month for breaching the CBO on Tuesday, September 15, when he was again discovered drunk and disorderly in the alcohol control zone.

Previous crimes include assaulting a nurse who was trying to treat him at Maidstone Hospital, urinating in Tonbridge High Street and licking a man’s face.