A man who spat at town hall staff and harassed passers-by has been handed an ASBO banning him from parts of Dalston for five years.

Carl Prescod was regularly drunk, abusive and violent in the area around Gillett Square – making life a misery for those who lived and worked nearby.

The 49-year old from Stoke Newington was the subject of many complaints to the police and Hackney Council after he had harassed intimidated residents and business owners.

Prescod also assaulted and spat at two council community safety wardens who were responding to complaints about him over the summer.

Sgt James Reynolds, of Dalston Safer Neighbourhoods Team, said Prescod’s presence had “blighted the area”. “Prescod has consistently shown no respect for the local community by his abusive and volatile behaviour,” he added.

Concern

The police and town hall applied to the courts for an anti-social behaviour order (ASBO), which was granted at a sentence hearing at East London Magistrates’ Court on November 12.

The conditions of the order are that he must not enter the area bounded by Kingsland High Street, John Campbell Road, Boleyn Road, Bradbury Road and Gillett Square, and must not be in possession of any open container of alcohol, unless in a public house, in the E8 and N16 postcode areas.

Deputy Mayor Cllr Sophie Linden, said they had spent a lot of time trying to help Mr Prescod without success.

“We were left with few other options but to secure this ASBO, as his behaviour was causing a real concern to everyone in and around Gillett Square,” she said.