Prolific crook Liam Ellison has been banned from the parts of the city he plagued.
The 33-year-old has been handed a Criminal Behaviour Order which forbids him from setting foot in every shop in Sunderland city centre, after being arrested 167 times.
It was reported that Ellison spat on one shopworker and headbutted another after attempting to shoplift from a store in the Bridges Shopping Centre, on August 16.
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Ellison, of no fixed abode, pleaded guilty to common assault and theft at South Tyneside Magistrates Court, two days later.
He was remanded into custody and later jailed for 16-weeks at the same court on October 11.
Ellison, who has been arrested 167 times and has 50 convictions for offences including theft and public order offences, was also handed a three-year Criminal Behaviour Order to curb his prolific offending.
He now faces arrest if sets foot in any retail premises in Sunderland city centre as well as Apple Green Harbour View service station in Roker.
He is also prevented from having open alcohol in his possession and must attend rehabilitation as part of the order.
Insp Don Wade, of Northumbria Police, said “We hope those who live, work in and visit Sunderland will join us in welcoming the news that Ellison can no longer enter parts of the area.
“The majority of reports we’ve received about his anti-social behaviour centre around him causing alarm and disorder, making life difficult for the public and business owners alike.
“Ellison has exasperated all chances he was given to turn his behaviour around and, instead of working with police and our partners, he has continued to cause a nuisance and repeatedly break the law.
“This order will ban him from entering the areas most affected by his offending and help to keep the public and workers safe. Should Ellison choose to ignore the conditions of his order, he will face re-arrest and a potential jail term.
“We hope that this offers reassurance to the wider community and, as a Force, we will continue to do all we can to act on concerns reported and bring effective justice against prolific offenders.”
And Sharon Appleby, Chief Executive at Sunderland Business Improvement District (BID), said: “This is a fantastic result and shows how the partnership between the BID, the Bridges, Sunderland City Council and the police is really effective in making Sunderland city centre a safe and welcoming place for everyone. By working together, we can really bring the message home that we have a zero-tolerance approach to anti-social behaviour and that action will be taken against anyone behaving in this way.”
Coun Graeme Miller, leader of Sunderland City Council and chair of the Safer Sunderland Partnership, said: "We have a strong track record of working together with our partners at Northumbria Police and Sunderland BID, and this Criminal Behaviour Order sends out the clear message that we are not prepared to tolerate anti-social behaviour in our city centre.”
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