Journalist prepares for January court battle against Asbo allegation

Christopher Perry, 65, of Southfield Close, Wetwang, near Driffield, became the subject of an interim order after allegations he had become a public nuisance.

It is alleged the anti-social behaviour is largely centred around articles he published on his website. Aggrieved parties include former Driffield police inspector Richard Wood, the Rev Robert Amos, of Driffield Methodist Church and former Mayor of Driffield Steve Poessl.

The order – which bans him from behaviour that causes or is likely to cause harassment, alarm or distress – was extended until a trial in January by District Judge Fred Rutherford at Hull Magistrates Court yesterday.

Outside the court Mr Perry, who moved to Wetwang in 2008 with his 93-year-old mother, said police got involved days after he published excerpts on his website from a document called The Thin Yellow Line, written by a traffic warden in Driffield. The website was taken down earlier this year.

Mr Perry, who is being supported by the National Union of Journalists, said: “I was doing the job any decent citizen would do, let alone a journalist.”

The order also states that Mr Perry must not make any direct or indirect approach to, or contact, whether verbally face-to-face, by gesture or intimation, by telephone, in writing, including any note, letter or card or by text message, email, or through any third party, with Mr and Mrs Wood, Mr Poessl and the Rev Amos, unless the contact is “wholly inadvertent”. Humberside Police said they were not in a position to comment on the case.