Judge Michael Mettyear told John Martindale, 64, a drifter known as Bernie, he had no choice but to jail him despite being convicted of simply drinking in the street and not injuring anyone.

Martindale, 64, is a serial offender with 89 court appearances for 122 offences between 1957 and 2008 – 27 for being drunk and disorderly.

His jailing for eight months last September for breaching an ASBO sparked public debate about whether drunks should be given ASBOs.

Martindale, of no fixed address, is a regular sight in Beverley town centre when he is not in prison and is also well known in Driffield.

He has a record which includes making violent threats.

Appearing for sentence at Hull Crown Court on Monday, Mr Martindale had earlier pleaded guilty to a single offence of breaching an Anti-Social Behaviour Order within two hours of it being imposed by Beverley magistrates.

Crown barrister Andrew Wilson said the order banned him from appearing in a public place in Beverley with an open container of alcohol. He breached the order on January 14 two days after being released from prison for an identical offence.

He said he was seen near the Push Inn in the market place drinking from a glass which contained Special Brew. Police officers approached and he was abusive to them. They arrested him despite his pleas to let him go.

It is the seventh time he has appeared before the courts for breach of an ASBO.

His defence barrister Mark Bury told the judge he was a low-level nuisance.

Judge Mettyear said if Martindale continued to breach sentences he could be locked up for longer. He said on this occasion it was not necessary.

He jailed him for a total of seven months – six months for breaching his last sentence and a further month for breaching his ASBO.

Before he was taken to the cells, Martindale said: “Thank you very much for treating me with respect, your honour.”