A HAMPSHIRE man has been handed an ASBO covering the whole of England and Wales after he was caught drunk and disorderly within hours of being released from prison.

Ian Mitcheson, 29, has been landed with the two-year anti-social behaviour order after he was seen urinating in a public bin in Winchester High Street in broad daylight.

Mitcheson, of no fixed abode, is described by police as someone with a serious alcohol problem who has repeatedly failed to respond to warnings about his behaviour.

The final straw came when he was reported by members of the public to be behaving abusively and lewdly.

When officers eventually found him shortly after 1.30pm under the archway next to Debenhams, he was seen to be urinating into the bin and was arrested.

Officers then found that he had been released from prison only that morning after serving time for previous bad behaviour.

The following day magistrates in Basingstoke imposed the ASBO banning him from being verbally or physically abusive, or acting in a manner or using threatening words or behaviour in a manner that causes or is likely to cause harassment, alarm or distress.

A Hampshire police spokesman said that in the past Mitcheson had also been reported for shouting abusive and threatening language at people, all of which had occurred when he had been drunk.

Police in the city centre are now appealing for the public to help in getting Mitcheson to stick to the ASBO and have released his picture so anyone who sees him acting badly can report him to the authorities.

He faces up to five years in jail if he breaks the terms of the order.

PC Paul Hewitt said: "We have obtained this ASBO on Ian Mitcheson as he has caused a real problem in the city.

"If anyone sees him acting in a disorderly manner I would encourage them to contact Winchester police station on 0845 045 4545.

"I am hoping that this order will reassure the public that we are taking the matter very seriously."