A man has been banned from setting foot in Asda and Tesco supermarkets to the north of the county after making people's lives a 'misery'. Stephen Ravenscroft, 53, of Wellow Green, Ollerton, has been banned from entering Asda, in Lombard Street in Newark, and the Tesco Superstore in Rufford Avenue in Ollerton.
He's been made subject to a two-year criminal behaviour order (CBO) for anti-social behaviour and also been banned from begging in the two areas. It comes after his behaviour was reported to Nottinghamshire Police and Newark and Sherwood District Council.
The nature of the allegations included the use of drugs, begging, urinating in public, swearing and shouting, and leaving belongings strewn across public accesses. Ravenscroft accepted an offer of temporary accommodation in May of this year - but, despite support, he continued to beg and cause nuisance in the Ollerton area.
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In order to protect the public from incidents of anti-social behaviour, it was deemed necessary to take the matter to court alongside the police and an order was granted. The two-year Criminal Behaviour Order was issued on October 14 at Mansfield Magistrates' Court.
PC Robert Nelson, of Nottinghamshire Police, who applied for the order alongside Newark and Sherwood District Council’s anti-social behaviour officer, said: “We have worked closely with police colleagues in Ollerton and partners to offer this individual many opportunities to change his lifestyle. He has instead chosen to ignore these and behave in a manner that has caused nuisance and annoyance to members of the public and misery to the victims of his criminal activities. The terms secured in this order will hopefully provide much needed respite for the communities that have suffered from his behaviour."
The terms of the order state that Ravenscroft is prohibited from:
1. Entering ASDA, Newark, to include the specified car park area, at any time.
2. Begging or placing himself in a position to beg in any specified public places in Newark.
3. Sitting or perching or crouching on the floor/pavement/doorway of any specified commercial premises in Newark.
4. Begging or placing himself in a position to beg in any specified place in Ollerton.
5. Sitting on any bench situated on Forest Road, Ollerton, between the junction of Rufford Avenue and Sherwood Drive, Ollerton, at any time.
6. Entering Tesco Superstore or land, in Ollerton, at any time. To define Tesco store this includes the car park from Eddison Rise (including the petrol station) across to the border with Rufford Avenue.
Councillor Roger Jackson, of Newark and Sherwood District Council, said: “The council has worked hard to engage with Mr Ravenscroft in setting out the options that are available to him, when he arrived in Newark in 2020, that would avoid him having to sleep rough, exploring long-term housing options with him and assisting him to access services. Unfortunately, we were not able to make any progress with his situation as Mr Ravenscroft failed to fully engage. However, we will continue to offer the necessary assistance he needs to help him sustain a life away from the streets”.
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