A man caught performing a sex act in a library and boy racers in a multi-storey car park are among those banned from using council services.

The offenders are among scores of misbehaving residents who have been banned from libraries, education centres and car parks for their conduct over the last three years.

Horsham District Council has handed out the most bans of the councils surveyed, barring more than 40 teenagers from its car parks since 2010 for trespassing, smoking illegal substances and revving their engines too loud.

Eastbourne Borough Council has given the red card to 12 residents for abusing staff.

West Sussex County Council has banned seven residents from libraries since 2010, including two arsonists.

A man in his 30s caught pleasuring himself in the business section of Crawley Library in December 2010 received a one-year ban to go with his police caution for outraging public decency.

East Sussex County Council has also banned two aggressive library users while also imposing two indefinite bans on residents from their adult education and childcare centres.

Criminal damage

Lewes District Council had the best behaved residents with no bans issued since 2010.

A Horsham District Council spokeswoman said the town’s car parks had sustained high levels of criminal damage in the past and the council had made a number of improvements to its car parks, including additional security |patrols.

A West Sussex County Council spokesman said anyone banned from libraries would have their card blocked electronically and police would be involved for breaches of the ban.

He added: “It is extremely rare for a ban to be imposed on anyone using a West Sussex library.

“However in cases such as violence, aggressive or inappropriate behaviour, staff will tell the perpetrator to leave.”

Simon Hughes, assistant chief executive at East Sussex County Council, said that incidents where bans would be considered are extremely rare.

He added: “Our priority is the safety of people using our services, and safety of our own staff.

“If we believe someone’s behaviour is putting that at risk then we will act.”