A homeless drunk is back behind bars today after breaching an anti-social behaviour order 30 times.

Daniel Palmer, 30, was made subject to an ASBO in 2007 and since then he has continued to breach the order.

Palmer, of no fixed abode, who has committed 138 offences over the years, was sentenced to 12 months in prison during an appearance at Ipswich Crown Court on Wednesday.

The alcoholic admitted breaching a community order which had been made just two months ago. The community and supervision order was put in place after Palmer admitted three separate breaches of his ASBO, possession of ketamine, assaulting a police officer and criminal damage during a hearing on September 18. As well as the order, he also had to complete a residential treatment course.

During his latest court appearance on Wednesday, the court heard that at 7.30pm on October 21, Palmer called 999 and told police he was about to breach his community order and was going to take his own life.

Richard Kelly, prosecuting, said when officers arrived at the scene it was clear Palmer was intoxicated and he maintained the threats to take his own life.

While sentencing Palmer, Judge John Devaux said he had “lost count” of the number of times the defendant had breached his order.

Judge Devaux revoked the community and supervision order put in place on September 18 and instead handed Palmer a custodial sentence.

He was sentenced to six months in prison for three breaches of his ASBO, two months for possession of ketamine, four months for assaulting a police officer and two months for criminal damage. The sentence is to run concurrently, meaning he will serve six months.

In addition, he was sentenced to a further six months for breaching his order which will run consecutively. His 12-month sentence will be reduced by the 30 days he has already spent in custody.

John Morgans, representing Palmer, said his client fully understood the breach was likely to result in a prison sentence.

He said Palmer had been in touch with addiction charity NORCAS and was seeking help for his problems.

He said: “The temptations would be there [in prison] but he realises the real pressures come on his release.”

Police applauded the sentence given to Daniel Palmer after years of ‘causing problems’ to the local community.

Inspector Andrew Mason, of Suffolk police, said: “The individual sentenced has caused problems in the local community over a prolonged period, and has continually breached the ASBO imposed against him. The custodial sentence passed is reflective of this and of his continual disregard for the law and for other members of the public who are often caused distress by his behaviour.

“ASBOs are civil orders to protect the public from behaviour that causes or is likely to cause harassment, alarm or distress.

“A breach of an ASBO is taken extremely seriously, the behaviour involved causes a problem to communities and individuals found to be in breach on an order will be arrested and dealt with by the courts.

“Police work with partner agencies to provide solutions to combat repeat offending of this kind. Where drug and alcohol dependency is a problem, offenders are offered access to recovery services to enable them to move away from chaotic lifestyles and reduce their likelihood of offending.”