A HOMELESS drug user will have to work with a drug agency under a court order designed to curb his anti-social behaviour.

City of York Council took court action against Frank Gray, 56, on the grounds he takes drugs in public, urinates in the street, and asks passers-by for money.

He has repeatedly turned down offers of help despite 19 approaches in January alone this year from City of York Council, the Salvation Arm, the police and York BID.

He has also failed to comply with a community protection warning order issued in February on eight occasions.

After he admitted urinating near the war memorial in Duncombe Place on February 2, York magistrates gave him a six-month conditional discharge and made him subject to a two-year criminal behaviour order.

The order compels him to work with Changing Lives, a drug rehabilitation agency.

It also prohibits him from preparing, consuming or injecting drugs in a public place in York, or having drugs or drug paraphernalia where the public can see them.

A spokesperson for Changing Lives said: “We welcome being consulted by enforcement services where rough sleepers are concerned. We also support the inclusion of positive requirements to access our services through criminal behaviour orders. This is not only to ensure the order protects the public but will improve outcomes for the offender too.”

Tom Brittain, the council's assistant director of housing and community safety, said: “This court action is a new bid to encourage Mr Gray to make safer choices as part of our ongoing work to try and support him into a safer, more stable lifestyle by accepting help from our partners and our gold standard homelessness services to make a positive difference to his life.

“Thanks go to all our partners for their help in securing this result. While we will take a strong line against anti-social behaviour, we continue to support people who sleep on the streets to move into our hostels and our resettlement services so they can look forward to a better life.”