A LONER is to carry out 200 hours of community service after being caught making obscene gestures people in Ipswich.John Frost, of Hasketon Road, Burgh, pleaded guilty at South East Suffolk Magistrates' Court to using threatening behaviour and assaulting two police officers.

A LONER is to carry out 200 hours of community service after being caught making obscene gestures people in Ipswich.

John Frost, of Hasketon Road, Burgh, pleaded guilty at South East Suffolk Magistrates' Court to using threatening behaviour and assaulting two police officers.

Under his current two-year Anti-Social Behaviour Order, Frost, who is unemployed, is banned from drinking in the town centre and entering Christchurch Park for two years. Magistrates extended this to include a ban on having alcohol on him in a public place, and being drunk in a public place.

The court heard how Frost, 36, was spotted making obscene gestures while he was sitting on a bench opposite the bus stop in Crown Street on July 9.

A member of the public called police and when they arrived at the scene, they found him drunk, abusive and aggressive, the court heard.

Prosecuting, Gareth Davies, said: “He was observed making vulgar gestures at various members of the public on the bus and at the bus stop.

“A member of the public found it offensive and inappropriate so called police.”

Frost began shouting loudly at police officers and making gestures towards the member of the public who had made the complaint, the court heard.

He then kicked the male officer several times, including once in the groin, and kicked the female officer in the shins. They were forced to use gas to bring him under control, Mr Davies said.

Mitigating, John Hughes, said: “Social care services have now admitted that Frost needs some assistance.

“This is about a man who is socially inept. He comes into town and doesn't have any friends so behaves inappropriately. It is about isolation and having nothing to do.

“He wasn't in breach of the order. He went to a field outside Ipswich to drink alcohol and then walked back into town.

“He would like to be different-he would like to change.”

As well as extensions made to his ASBO, he was also ordered to attend a one to one offender programme, do 200 hours of unpaid work, pay £75 compensation to both the police officers injured and pay £55 in costs.

Ipswich Borough Council recently launched a consultation to crack down on alcohol-fuelled bad behaviour through the introduction of a designated public places order (DPPO) across the borough.

Subject to approval, an alcohol ban could be put in place as early as September.