A WORCESTER man is the first in the county to be banned from certain areas of the city as he is seen as a potential sexual offender.

An interim three-month order under the Sexual Offences Act - banning the man from Worcester's Gheluvelt Park and several city streets - was imposed at a civil hearing in the Magistrates Court yesterday.

Magistrates imposed an order under Section 11 of the Contempt of Court Act, forbidding the Evening News from giving his name, address or any information that might identify him to the public.

The Evening News applied for the ban to be lifted in the ''public interest'', but the magistrates, after adjourning to discuss the case, refused.

Magistrates heard how it was alleged the man - who has a previous conviction dating back to 1979 for indecent assault - allegedly scrawled a pornographic message on a car, littered several streets with pornographic literature and climbed through a nursing home window.

It is the first time such an order has been made in the county under the new Sexual Offences Act 2003 - which came into force this month - according to Worcester Police.

The ban also prevents the man from entering Lansdowne Crescent, Lansdowne Walk, Lansdowne Crescent Lane and Kendal Street.

Neil Campbell, solicitor acting on behalf of West Mercia Police, said on one occasion the man was arrested for attempting to climb through the window of a nursing home in the city where female nurses were working.

He went on to say the man later visited a flat occupied by elderly people and was seen ''hanging about for no purpose'' in the Arboretum area of the city.

Magistrates also heard how the man was bound over to keep the peace for entering the property of a woman as a burglar with intent to commit rape.

''There are allegations that improper writing was also put on to vehicles, he said.

''A lot of pornographic material was also put on roads and fixed to trees in and around Lansdowne Crescent.''

The Sexual Offences Prevention Order prevents the man following any female, trespassing any dwellings or the grounds of any homes, or climbing on any wall or vantage point.

He is also banned from writing, leaving or sending messages of a sexual nature, loitering in any place, distributing or displaying pornographic material, masturbating or exposing himself in a public place or acting in a manner likely to cause harassment alarm or distress to a female.

David Taylor, representing the man, said the accused did not accept the conduct allegations and there was an issue as to whether there had been a case of mistaken identity.

The case was adjourned until Monday, June 14 for a pre-trial review.