Reading Magistrates' Court: Newbury man breached Criminal Behaviour Order

A MAN banned from Newbury town centre for being a nuisance has breached his Criminal Behaviour Order... yet again.

Robert Black was back in the dock once more at Reading Magistrates' Court on Thursday, April 28.

The 52-year-old, who lives in Parsons Close, Newbury, has an extensive catalogue of previous convictions including drunkenness, public order offences and shoplifting.

Last year he was made subject to a Criminal Behaviour Order (CBO) designed to prevent him being a nuisance by forbidding him from consuming alcohol in a public, except for in licensed premises, or from having open containers of alcohol in a public place.

However, due to repeated breaches of the original order – and numerous reports of associated antisocial behaviour by Mr Black – police were granted a more extensive order which totally excluded him from central Newbury.

The area from which Mr Black is supposedly banned is bounded by London Road, A339, Bear Lane, Cheap Street, Market Street, Bartholomew Street, West Mills, Bridge Street, Northcroft Lane, Northbrook Street and The Broadway.

The order, which is designed to protect the public from being caused harassment, alarm and distress, runs until June 11.

Notwithstanding that, at his latest court appearance Mr Black admitted possessing an open can of alcohol in Newbury town centre on Wednesday, March 2, in breach of the CBO.

He further admitted two new offences committed in Theale.

Specifically, he was convicted of stealing £20 worth of meat from the town's Co-op store on Saturday, February 26, and of stealing £13.85 worth of alcohol from the same store on Saturday, March 5.

Magistrates ordered pre-sentence reports to be prepared on an 'all options' basis, including custody.

Mr Black, who was legally represented by Mike Davis, was meanwhile released once more on unconditional bail.