A stalker who cut the bottoms out of his trouser pockets before following his victims in the street has been given an antisocial behaviour order (Asbo).

The order bans Stewart Young from tampering with his trousers.

The 33-year-old has a history of following women around and harassing them, a court heard.

Young - branded "an escalating risk of harm to the public" by probation workers - was given the post-conviction Asbo at Colchester Magistrates' Court yesterday.

He has just served 14 weeks in prison for harassing a young shopworker in Colchester.

Young has a previous conviction for harassing a woman in Halstead, and another conviction for sexual harassment, the court heard.

The order bans Young, of Railway Street, Braintree, from being drunk in public or having an open vessel containing alcohol in public.

He must also refrain from causing harassment, alarm or distress to any woman.