Woman handed Criminal Behaviour Order following continuous issues in Newport

A woman has been handed a Criminal Behaviour Order (CBO) for persistent drunken and aggressive behaviour, and shoplifting around Newport on the Isle of Wight.

Maddy Allen-Willsher, aged 21, appeared at Portsmouth Magistrates’ Court on 24 October this year where the CBO was handed to her, which will last for two years.

Magistrates were provided with a series of evidential documents by police detailing instances of shoplifting, and abusive and aggressive behaviour, alleged to have been perpetrated by Allen-Willsher – formerly of the Isle of Wight but now of Trinity Street in Fareham.

The court were also provided with a copy of a previous Community Protection Notice (CPN) served on Allen-Willsher, which set out a number of conditions to limit her behaviour, including prohibiting her from entering Cineworld on the Isle of Wight, drinking alcohol in public and engaging in harassment/abusive behaviour.

Allen-Willsher breached this CPN in August.

Under the conditions of the CBO, Allen-Willsher is banned from entering Church Litten Park in Newport, including the Rose Garden, and is prohibited from associating with a number of named individuals.

She is also prohibited from entering any business premises from which she’s already banned, and must not be drunk in public in Newport or consume alcohol in public anywhere in Newport other than a licensed premises.

If she fails to comply with these conditions, she risks being arrested and prosecuted further.

Sergeant Chantal Miller, from Newport Neighbourhoods Policing Team (NPT) said: “Business and retail staff around Newport shouldn’t have to go to work with the fear that they may be subjected to abuse and violence, or have to deal with other anti-social behaviour and criminality such as shoplifting.

“Maddy Allen-Willsher has caused persistent problems in the town centre both to businesses and the wider public, and Newport NPT has worked diligently to not only seek prosecutions for her behaviour, but also to explore other options – such as this CBO – to limit her offending and provide police further opportunities to take action if this behaviour continues.

“The reasons behind this type of behaviour can vary from individual to individual, but it can often be driven by addiction issues, such as alcoholism, and police work closely with local services who can provide support to those with addictions.

“We want the community to keep reporting incidents of anti-social behaviour and business crime around the town to police, so we can continue to work with partners to address these behaviours, and take appropriate action against any criminal offences.”