BBC DJ Andy Kershaw banned from pubs after being freed from jail

After nearly a week behind bars accused of harassing his former partner, radio presenter Andy Kershaw was finally been freed and ordered to seek help for his problems.

The DJ, whose Radio 3 programme has been off-air since May, was banned from pubs and restaurants after a series of alcohol-fuelled outbursts and told to undergo medical treatment.

Kershaw, whose distinctive Lancastrian tones make him one of the most recognisable voices on the airwaves, has been struggling to come to terms with his acrimonious split from Juliette Banner, the mother of his two young children.

Last week his problems became public knowledge after he was arrested at his home on the Isle of Man accused of breaching a restraining order barring him from contacting her and remanded in custody.

Yesterday he was taken to court in the island's capital, Douglas, by prison van where he was given bail under stringent conditions to keep him away from his 42-year-old ex-lover.

The island's deputy high bailiff, Alastair Montgomerie, agreed to release Kershaw, 48, provided he stayed away from her new house in Peel, avoided all licensed premises and submitted to medical treatment.

Mr Montgomerie told the tired-looking presenter: "No doubt as you'll appreciate it absolutely imperative that you abide by those conditions."

Despite his ordeal, Kershaw maintained a confident front during the short hearing, calling out "Thank you very much" when the magistrate freed him on conditions which included a £2,000 surety.

He was also made subject to an overnight curfew except when required for duty as a member of the local lfeboat crew.

Afterwards the former Radio 1 presenter returned to his £400,000 nine-bedroom converted nursing home on the seafront at Peel without making any comment.

Locals in the pretty but isolated town have this week told how Kershaw's worsening drink problem had degenerated into threats of violence and left many of them sick of his presence.

In July he allegedly drunkenly heckled speakers at a public meeting to discuss parking on the seafront street where he lives and almost came to blows with a councillor.

In front of more than 300 locals, Kershaw is said to have marched in while the gathering was underway and begun berating speakers including town councillor John Lightfoot.

One person who was there said: "Kershaw just went ballistic - he was wagging his finger, clenching his fists - I'm sure it would have come to blows if he'd been able to get to him."

Mr Lightfoot, 68, said: "I just lost my temper with him and told him to shut up. He was very vociferous about it, we exchanged a few words, and it was all rather unfortunate."

However he insisted they made up afterwards and parted on good terms.

Other locals in Peel said Kershaw had become notorious for his behaviour, spending most of his time drinking and becoming increasingly unapproachable.

"When he is not spending the entire day in one of the pubs, you'll see him staggering down the street with cans of beer clutched in his hand - it's such a sad sight," said one.

"When he first moved here, everyone thought he would be good for Peel, but now we've all had quite enough of him."

Another said: "He's extremely opinionated on seemingly every topic and wants to share it with people, whether they like it or not, which is not a good combination when he's also aggressive and drunk."

Kershaw and his partner, who owns a restaurant in north London, bought a terraced house in Peel as a holiday home in 2003 after being introduced to the Isle of Man by his former Radio 1 colleague, John Peel.

Last year, they decided to move from North London to the island full time to bring up their children, Sonny, nine, and Dolly, eight, and they bought a second house large enough to house a studio from which his weekly Radio 3 show was broadcast.

But since their acrimonious break-up earlier this year, Miss Banner has returned to their former holiday home, which is less than 100 yards away.

Last month, fed up with his drunken attempts at a reconciliation, she took out a restraining order barring him from contacting her, but, last Wednesday, he announced he was going round to see her and police were called and arrested him.

Miss Banner, who is thought to have moved to a rented house in another part of Peel, has not been seen since the weekend.

Their children are thought to be staying with Miss Banner's mother in Cheshire.

According to the BBC, the Rochdale-born DJ, who specialises in world music, is off-air because he is "unwell".

Listeners were told to expect his show to resume in July, but that has now been put back by a further three months.

Kershaw was ordered to return to the court in Douglas again later this month.

In happier times: Kershaw with his ex-lover Juliette Banner