'Prison please' begs ASBO man

From the archive, first published Wednesday 18th Apr 2007.

A MAN branded a "persistent nuisance" to Skipton punched the air and thanked a court when he was sent to prison for four months.

Earlier, Daniel Greenwood had told a probation officer that he would simply go out and commit more crime unless he was jailed for breaching his anti-social behaviour order.

He had also packed some belongings into bin liners and brought them to the courtroom in anticipation of the sentence.

And his only request was to have a last cigarette as a free man before he was taken to the cells.

Greenwood, who has a long history of addiction, offending and homelessness, is banned from virtually all of Skipton under the terms of an anti-social behaviour order, imposed in June 2006.

Prosecuting, Teresa Taylor told Skipton Magistrates on Friday (ap13) that the breach took place on April 7 when police officers were called to reports of a man slumped over a wall.

The man turned out to be Greenwood in a drunken stupor and when the officers approached him, he became abusive and was arrested.

A probation officer said that the 33-year-old had told her that his life was "spiralling out of control" and if he were to keep his liberty, he would go out and steal something to get drunk and would carry on offending.

She told magistrates: "It's in your hands - I really can't help any further. That's the information, as bleak as it is."

Greenwood, said to be of no fixed address but listed as living on Alkincote Street, Keighley, pleaded guilty to breaching his ASBO by using threatening, abusive or insulting words or behaviour.

When he realised he was going to jail, he punched the air in celebration. He was sentenced to four months imprisonment with the possibility of release within two months.

It is believed he was allowed his last cigarette before taken away in the prison van.