A MAN who has been living in a tent in Skipton has been made subject of a Criminal Behaviour Order banning him from entering the town at night for five years.

In addition to not being allowed in the town itself between 10pm and 7am, Craig Boyd, 33, must also not enter Otley Road including Wilderness Woods, where he has been pitching his tent, at any time of the day or night, or Shortbank Road, unless going directly to his mother’s home in Moor View Way.

He must not also ‘loiter or hang about’ on Shortbank Road at any time or to ‘shout, swear or cause a loud noise’ in any public place.

The order, imposed on Friday at Skipton Magistrates Court and agreed by Boyd, also requires him to engage with drug and alcohol services and in mental health services and to live at an address provided by a housing association.

Boyd, who on Friday admitted to two charges of criminal damage in Skipton and of being in possession of two joints of cannabis, was warned failure to comply with the criminal behaviour order was an offence for which he could be sent to prison.

The court heard that Boyd, described as ‘no stranger to courts’ and with a number of previous, similar convictions, preferred to live in a tent in Skipton where he knew people, rather than a housing association property in Park Wood Court, Keighley.

He received a 12 month conditional discharge for two offences of criminal damage in Shortbank Road on November 14 last year, and for the possession of two joints of cannabis at the same time.

He will however have to pay compensation of £30 to Moorview Social Club for damage to a cigarette bin and £45 to the owner of a car whose wing mirror he damaged.

The court heard that police were called in the early hours of the morning on November 14 because of someone shouting in the street, and while they were on their way, a second call was received reporting an incident of criminal damage.

The first complainant had been woken up by the sound of shouting and swearing, followed by smashing glass, that turned out to be the wing mirror of his car being broken, said prosecutor, Melanie Ibbotson.

When the police arrived, they discovered damage to the nearby cigarette bin, as well as the car.

Boyd, when located, appeared agitated, was swearing, and he accused the officers of harassing him. He was searched, and officers found the two cannabis joints, after which he was taken to Harrogate Police Station, the court was told.

In mitigation, Siobhan White said Boyd had no memory of what had happened on November 14 as he was drunk at the time.

She said he had somewhere to live in Keighley but chose to live in a tent in Skipton because that was where his family and friends were.