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‘Persistent menace’ gets an interim ASBO
A PERSISTENT menace whose booze-fuelled antics have caused chaos in the city centre has been given an interim anti-social behaviour order.
Cody Mason (26), of Saltmarsh, Orton Malborne, was given the order at Peterborough Magistrates’ Court on Tuesday.
Peterborough City Council applied for the order as they feared Mason would not curb his behaviour before a full ASBO hearing in December.
The court heard Mason had committed 24 offences between February 14 and June 8 this year.
They included wielding a crowbar in the Job Centre in Broadway, where he had also been drunk and abusive on other occasions.
He was caught drinking alcohol in Broadway, Bridge Street, North Street, and even while pushing a baby in a pram in Midgate.
Mason also alarmed shoppers and staff by being drunk and using drugs in city shops and caused a nuisance in pubs, including using drugs in O’Neills bar in Broadway.
Two offences involved his dog. The first was on March 23, when he beat the animal in Rivergate and, on March 29, he let it off its leash in Broadway and it ran into traffic, causing cars to swerve.
Mason was caught begging for money in Long Causeway on May 30 and, on June 4, he was even spotted having sex in full public view at Stanley recreation ground.
The interim ASBO bans him from carrying out a list of activities within a defined area of the city centre, from Rivergate in the south to Burghley Road in the north and from Bourges Boulevard in the west to St John’s Street in the east.
In the order issued by the court, it said: “The court believes that you have acted in an anti-social manner and that this order is necessary to protect people from further anti-social acts by you.”
If Mason breaches the interim ASBO he would be committing a criminal offence, which is punishable by a fine or a sentence of up to five years in jail.
The news of the order was welcomed by city centre neighbourhood police sergeant Nikki Hall, who said Mason had been a thorn in the side of the officers.
She said: “We have tried various approaches with him to try and curb his behaviour, from talking with him to ticketing him, and it hasn’t worked.
“We decided to go for the ASBO as it does carry the deterrent of five years’ imprisonment and he has been a persistent menace, from drinking and drug taking to violent and offensive behaviour.
“He has been given opportunities to come off drink and drugs through agencies we have liaised with, but hasn’t taken it.
“This ASBO is great news for the people who come to work in the city and shop here and also to businesses and sends a strong message that this behaviour will not be tolerated.”
SaferPeterborough Partnership manager Christine Graham also welcomed the ASBO.
She said: “With our partners, we are continually taking action against those who affect the quality of life of residents and visitors to the city.
“This is a successful outcome and is part of our ongoing work to tackle anti-social behaviour in the city.”
Mason is ordered to returned to court on December 13 for the full ASBO hearing.
What Mason is banned from doing
THE order bans Mason from the following activities in the defined area:
Being drunk or having alcohol.
Abusing drugs.
Begging.
Engaging in sexual conduct which may cause harassment, alarm or distress in any public place.
Using threatening, insulting or abusive language or behaviour in any public place.
Entering any shop or commercial premises from which he is banned.
Remaining in any shop, commercial premises, office or public space within the area if asked to leave by staff, police officers, or police community support officers.
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Weather for Peterborough
Saturday 26 May 2012
Today
Sunny
Temperature: 11 C to 23 C
Wind Speed: 20 mph
Wind direction: East
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Sunny
Temperature: 10 C to 23 C
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