REDBRIDGE'S oldest ASBO breacher is facing a lengthy spell behind bars for sending over 200 offensive letters to a young barmaid.

Obsessed 75-year-old Gordon Peters, of Beal Guest House, Argyle Road, Ilford, sent notes calling 23-year-old Italian Anna Guled a prostitute and a drug dealer to three east London pubs where she worked.

The peg-legged pensioner even wrote her telephone number on the envelopes hoping people passing-by the buildings' communal postboxes would see her contact details and call up demanding sex.

He appeared at Redbridge Magistrates Court on Tuesday but presiding magistrate Sonia Gable decided that the matter should be sent to Snaresbrook Crown Court as her punishment powers of up to six-month imprisonment were not sufficient.

Prosecutor Alex Matic said that there were even more offences to be taken into consideration.

He added: "I have been made aware of further letters that have been received by the licensing authority from Mr Peters and that he will be arrested today after this hearing.

"He has sent a number of letters throughout March in breach of the ASBO and has not been cooperating with probation."

Liz Neal, mitigating, said that Peters was not to blame for missing his appointments.

She said: "It wasn't Mr Peters' fault that the report wasn't done. It was due to a change of address. When he last appeared in court he was homeless at that time as he was about to be evicted.

"He was first placed at the Mayfair Hotel but he did not remain there as he was the victim of an assault."

"He did persistently write letters to the barmaid called Anna but he's a 75-year-old male with various health problems including an artificial leg."

Apart from the Black Horse and Maguires Pubs, in Chapel Road, Ilford, and the Ruskin Arms in Manor Park, Peters also sent poisoned-pen letters to Ilford Police, Barking Police and even a professor at Kent University.

He was issued an anti-social behaviour order on August 31 last year that forbad him writing to any licensed premises, contacting Miss Guled, her boss Katrina Quinn, or complaining to the police or Redbridge Council without going through a lawyer.

Magistrate Sonia Gable said: "We are minded to save time and send this case to the criminal court. We consider that our powers of punishment are not sufficient in terms of danger to the public. All options are to be considered."

Gordon Peters was bailed to return to Snaresbrook Crown Court on July 10 for sentencing.