A SERIAL offender is back behind bars after breaching an Anti-Social Behaviour Order for the 17th and 18th time.

Edward Arthur Bryson, 50, of no fixed address was arrested when he was spotted on June 13 in a restricted zone in Taunton town centre he was banned from entering.

Then on July 7 he was again arrested for being in possession of and drinking alcohol in the town centre At Taunton Magistrates’ Court, Bryson was jailed for a total of 42 weeks – he was told the sentence was so severe to act as a deterrent for other offenders and because of his repeated offending.

Bryson, who changed his original not guilty plea to guilty, was given 16 weeks for the first breach and 26 weeks for the second one.

He was also ordered to pay an £80 victim surcharge and £180 criminal courts charge.