Two men sentenced for criminal damage and public order offences in Bransgore

Two men have been sentenced for criminal damage and public order offences in Bransgore in early 2023.

Brothers Dillon Alan Cooper, 21, and Thomas Edward Cooper, 21, both of Burnt House Lane, Bransgore, were sentenced at Southampton Magistrates’ Court yesterday afternoon. (Tuesday 10 September).

The pair, who had already pleaded guilty at a previous hearing at the same court on Thursday 25 July, have each been handed an 18-month community order.

Thomas Cooper will be required to complete a maximum of 15 rehabilitation activity days as well as 150 hours of unpaid work.

He was also sentenced, as above, for two common assaults of a police officer and police sergeant on Burnt House Lane on Thursday 26 January 2023.

Dillon Cooper will be required to complete a maximum of 20 rehabilitation activity days and 270 hours of unpaid work.

The conviction and sentencing follows an incident on 28 February 2023 when the Coopers caused extensive damage to a taxi after firing ball bearings at it.

During the incident, which took place shortly after 11am on Burley Road, Bransgore the driver was also put in fear of violence.

Both brothers were ordered to pay £650 each (£1,300 in total) in compensation to the victim.

Dillon Cooper was also sentenced after pleading guilty to stealing thousands of pounds worth of camping equipment and tools from a vehicle in Emery Down shortly before 4pm on Sunday 25 June 2023.

The incident, which occurred on Bolderwood Road, involved the theft of £3,500 worth of items.

He was ordered to pay £2,746.62 in compensation to the victim.

Speaking after the sentencing, PC Katherine Gillingham, said: “I am pleased for the victims in these cases with the positive outcome at court.

The Cooper brothers will now face the consequences of their actions and will have to compensate those who they have committed crimes against.

“Behaviour and criminality such as theirs will never be tolerated and we will always work tirelessly to ensure offenders are held to account for their offending.

“This should serve as a reminder to other offenders out there that we will always seek to bring you to justice.

“You will not be allowed to simply get away with stealing, causing damage, putting innocent members of the public in fear of their safety and assaulting police officers in the execution of their duties.”