A phone pest jailed for making scores of dirty calls to women and organisations could be the first person in Devon to be banned from owning a mobile phone.

Police have applied to the courts to impose a criminal antisocial behaviour order on Edwin Richards, 45, stopping him from owning a mobile phone in England and Wales.

The application was made after Richards, of Gilbert Road, Buckland, Newton Abbot, was jailed for six months for 16 counts of sending messages that were grossly offensive or of an indecent, obscene or menacing character.

He sent lewd text messages and made obscene phone calls to employees of Devon and Cornwall Police, Manchester Airport and Teign Housing, of which he was a tenant.

Masquerading as a neighbour, Richards made the calls from two pay-as-you-go- phones.

Magistrates told Richards at the end of the three-day trial last month that his calls were "intensive, offensive and disgusting" and had "frightened and sickened" his victims.

The application for the criminal antisocial behaviour order, known as a Crasbo, was made by prosecutor Chris Bittlestone at the end of the trial.

The matter was adjourned for a decision to be made by South Devon magistrates on Friday.

A Crasbo is an antisocial behaviour order made on the back of a criminal conviction.

There are prohibitions contained within the proposed order aimed at preventing a reoccurrence of his behaviour.

The conditions being sought prohibit Richards from acting or inciting or encouraging others to act in an antisocial manner in a way likely to cause harassment, alarm or distress to one or more persons.

Magistrates will consider two alternative conditions which will restrict Richards owning a mobile.

He could be prohibited from possession, use or control of any mobile phone. Alternatively, the magistrates will be asked to make an order that stops him possessing or using any mobile phone unless under a contract registered to his correct name, address and date of birth.

All conditions would apply throughout England and Wales.

Teignbridge Superintendent Jim Meakin welcomed the jail sentence imposed on Richards.

He said: "I am very pleased Richards has been convicted on all charges. Many individuals and agencies have been affected by his obscene behaviour and comments.

"Now what we have to do is ensure he can not do this again. By seeking to obtain a Crasbo, it will put in place prohibitions aimed at limiting his behaviour while at the same time reassuring people that he can not do anything like that in the future."