AN ASBO yob has been jailed after going to a hospital and hurling abuse at staff.

Anthony Cooper, aged 55, of Borough Avenue, Radcliffe, had been banned from entering parts of Manchester city centre in November, 2012, after Salford magistrates issued an anti-social behaviour order in response to his aggressive begging.

Manchester City Council applied to the court for the order at the time after hearing from several business owners that Cooper had been abusive and threatening towards staff whenever they asked him to leave their stores.

The ASBO also prevented him from going to any shop or hospital within the city centre.

On August 25 this year, Cooper went to Manchester Royal Infirmary and, in doing so, breached the ASBO.

Then on August 31, he racially abused people in a threatening manner in Manchester and hurled abuse at a man.

On September 9, Cooper breached the ASBO again by using offensive language in Manchester.

He appeared before Salford magistrates and admitted two counts of breaching the ASBO and one count of threatening behaviour.

Magistrates jailed Cooper for 30 weeks and said the offences were serious because of his long record offending.

He must also pay £100 court costs.

The ASBO was originally granted four years ago after he committed a series of crimes as he walked into shops while drunk and asked for money, or to use the toilets.

When staff asked him to leave, Cooper would become abusive and threatening and would refuse to go. On one occasion, he threatened to smash a woman’s glasses.

In another incident, he screamed abuse at strangers in Piccadilly Gardens while young children were present.

Staff from scores of city-centre shops provided the council with witness statements to secure the ASBO.