Man given ASBO for swearing at TV

[dutchman]

A man has promised to avoid coverage of the General Election after he was given an ASBO for swearing at television.

Former seaman Martin Solomon, 64, received the order after neighbours complained that they could hear his tirades at politicians on shows like Question Time, The Daily Telegraph reports.

Judge Martin Picton gave Solomon a supervision order and told him to stop drinking at the hearing in Gloucester on Thursday.

"I am sorry," Solomon said. "I have nothing against my neighbours at all. I like a drink and to cook and when I get home, sometimes late, I will switch on the TV. When I see Question Time on, sometimes I get angry but it's not directed at anyone else, it's at the TV. I'm a hardworking member of society. I don't want to go to prison."

He added: "With the General Election coming up, it's going to be very difficult - my solicitor told me not to watch the TV."

Sentencing Solomon, Judge Picton told him: "You have just got to stop drinking. You can't control it. When you drink you become a total nightmare to your neighbours. It's a criminal offence, what you do. You have to change your behaviour because it is causing enormous distress to your neighbours. It's just not right. You would hate it if you had someone like you living next to you."

Picton sentenced Solomon to 200 hours of unpaid work and ordered him to take part in 60 days of education training sessions.

He must also return to court every month so that officials can review his progress. His first review will be on election day, May 6.