THIS man is banned from all pubs, bars, clubs and off licences in Newport after assaulting a woman in the city centre while drunk.

Duane Stock, 24, of Moorland Park, Lliswerry, was given a Drinking Banning Order, at Cwmbran Magistrates' Court as part of a sentence imposed after he pleaded guilty to common assault after an attack on November 5 last year.

The order bans him from consuming alcohol at any licensed premises or public place in Newport until October 31 this year.

His details and photograph will be circulated throughout Newport to enforce the ban and If he breaches the order he could face a fine of up to £2,500.

Alongside the Drinking Banning Order, Stock was also made the subject of a 12-month community order requiring him to attend regular appointments with probation and also attend a five-day alcohol counselling course.

He was also ordered to pay £150 compensation and £85 costs.

Inspector Bob Thompson, who is responsible for policing Newport city centre, said: "Violent crime in Newport city centre has fallen dramatically over the past year. As well as making Newport a safer place by cutting crime and anti-social behaviour, we want to make sure people feel safer too.

"To assist with this, we are using every piece of legislation available to us to crackdown on the small minority of people who cause alcohol-fuelled issues. Now, not only do troublemakers face the prospect of being arrested and spending the night in the cells but they can also be banned from licensed premises, across the city, for up to two years."

This is the second order to be imposed in Newport this year.

In February, Ryan Hiscocks, 19, of Ringwood Hill, Ringland, was banned from entering any licensed premises in Newport for two years, after he assaulted a woman in the city centre.

Drinking Banning Orders aim to tackle alcohol-related offences, such as public order offences, criminal damage, assaults, violent offences and traffic offences and can last from two months to two years.

They can be made against any person aged 16 up, who acts in a criminal or disorderly manner while under the influence of alcohol.

The orders can impose any prohibition on a person that the court considers necessary to protect others from alcohol-related crime or disorderly conducts, including exclusions from purchasing alcohol, consuming or being in possession of alcohol in public, individual premises or all licensed premises in a certain area.