A SHAMELESS couple have been hit with an ASBO after they were caught having sex in a park.

Samantha Robinson and Graham Snowball romped in Gateshead's Saltwell Park, in full view of passers-by, including a girl of seven.

They continued having sex even when confronted by council wardens and when they'd finally finished, Robinson, naked from the waist down, approached a warden and said: "Would you like to have something that I've just had?"

The pair were given a year-long community order by Gateshead magistrates after admitting committing an act which outraged public decency.

Snowball, 27, also admitted being drunk and disorderly on three occasions, and causing harassment, alarm or distress.

Robinson, 21, admitted possessing a class-A drug and being drunk and disorderly on two occasions, and absconding by failing to attend court.

Now police and council chiefs have successfully applied for an Asbo after receiving a flood of complaints about the pair.

Between July and November, Snowball was arrested 14 times but the serial pest continued to bring misery to families in the Deckham and Shipcote areas.

The order prevents them, both formerly of Park Road, Gateshead, but now of no fixed abode, from behaving in an anti-social manner and drinking alcohol in public places.

They are also banned from specific parts of Deckham and Shipcote, and wardens have distributed 1,200 leaflets to make people aware of the Asbo.

"This is an example of how partner agencies can work successfully together,"

said Insp Les Pattison, of the Central Gateshead Neighbourhood Police Team.

"The quality of life of local residents has been substantially improved as Snowball has a condition not to enter a specific area. His activities will be monitored and if he breaches the order he will be arrested.

"We've proved in the past that Asbos are an effective tool and this order will bring respite to many residents who have suffered directly as a result of Snowball's persistent behaviour."

Last year Gateshead Council sent out 560 initial warning letters, followed by 179 second letters to persistent pests. Police and housing staff also made 42 home visits and 37 Acceptable Behaviour Agreements were signed.

Coun Linda Green, cabinet member for community safety, said: "Asbos are used in Gateshead as a last resort, when all other interventions have failed to resolve the problem.

"Gateshead currently has 27 active Asbos of which two thirds are against people aged 18 and over."

Only leaflets about Snowball have been issued so far. They feature his photograph and Asbo details, and ask any resident who sees him in the banned area to report him.

Clare Tierney, anti-social behaviour coordinator for Gateshead Council, said: "Asbo leaflets are a very effective way of informing residents about what the police and council have done to tackle the most persistent offenders.

"They are also a useful way of involving the public in helping us to enforce the Asbo, as they include details of how to report a breach, which is a criminal offence with a maximum penalty of up to two years in prison."