A crackdown on an Essex town’s street drinking problem has resulted in an “abusive and resistant” offender being ordered to pay more than £200.

Christopher Male, 51, of Pier Avenue, Clacton, was found guilty of failing to comply with a Public Spaces Protection Order, which had been set up to prevent anti-social behaviour in tjhe town centre.

Officers presenting Clacton at around 10.15am on Saturday, December 30, noticed a group of people gathered and drinking alcohol at the junction of Rosemary Road and Pier Avenue – where the PSPO is in effect.

Male was said to have disputed the legislation before the group was dispersed.

Officers returned half an hour later and found Male was back at the same spot drinking again. Essex Police said he refused to hand over his drink, became “abusive and resistant” and was arrested.

Male pleaded not guilty to failing to comply with the order at his first appearance at Colchester Magistrates’ Court on Tuesday, February 6.

However, on Monday April 30, he was convicted of the offence, fined £75, ordered to pay £100 court costs and £30 victim surcharge.

Speaking yesterday about the conviction, Insp Darren Deex, of Tendring’s community policing team, said: “This should send out a clear message that we are committed to tackling the street drinking problem in Clacton.

“This is the fourth person we have prosecuted for breaching the PSPO and we will continue to support our partners at Tendring District Council, who enforce the order through the issuing of penalty notices.

“We are also working hard with partners to ensure we look at alternative supportive measures for some of the street drinkers who really need it.

“In this circumstance, this group all had somewhere to live and had no reason to be gathering in the town, drinking excessively and causing a nuisance. We will not tolerate it and we will deal with them robustly.”