A PHONE pest has been banned permanently from harassing all police employees in North Yorkshire and all City of York Council employees.

Sean Schofield now faces up to five years in jail if he repeats the behaviour that left council employee Paul Johnson fearing for his own safety and made police switchboard operator Carole Monk feel threatened.

York magistrates imposed the restraining order on Schofield after hearing at a trial last month a tape recording of his phone call to the police and details of two calls he made to the council.

Schofield, 41, of Ardsley House, The Groves, York, denied harassment and making an offensive phone call.

But the Bench convicted him of both offences and adjourned sentence while probation officers prepared a report on him.

When he returned to court, the probation service revealed that he had not co-operated with them.

"I am taking the case to appeal," he explained to the court. "I am in no position to provide further information about my circumstances or income."

After a short break to enable him to consult with duty solicitor Sally Howard, Schofield pledged that he would not "wilfully refuse" to obey any sentence the court imposed. Mrs Howard said that he would comply with the restraining order.

Magistrates made a lifelong restraining order banning him from harassing anyone working for the police or city council, conditionally discharged him for 12 months, and ordered him to pay £300 prosecution costs within 28 days.

Senior magistrate Michael Dadd said: "While these calls were undoubtedly unacceptable behaviour, they were not the most serious this court has had to deal with."

"I will appeal on all issues," said Schofield immediately.

His call left Mr Johnson, of the council's environmental protection unit, so worried that he gave evidence at the trial behind a screen. Schofield, who conducted his own defence, did not give evidence.

He has previous convictions for criminal damage and assaulting a police officer.

Updated: 14:18 Friday, August 13, 2004