Latest ASBO application granted in Fegg Hayes against Matthew Hancock

A man described as committing “a catalogue of dreadful acts” has been given an anti social behaviour order.

Stoke-on-Trent’s Safer City Partnership presented 17 different allegations of anti social behaviour against Matthew Hancock of Cumberbatch Avenue in Fegg Hayes at Fenton Magistrates Court yesterday (Monday).

District Judge David Taylor described the incidents that lead to the application as “a catalogue of dreadful acts”, which included swearing, shouting, racial comments, throwing snowballs, stones, bricks and mud, drinking, entering other people's gardens, making threats to kill and intimidating members of the community if they dared to come forward.

The judge therefore praised members of the community for coming forward and giving statements to help the order be secured. He also granted an indefinite time on the order expiring, when ASBOs normally last for just two years.

The order prevents Matthew Hancock from:

• Approaching or contacting the witnesses
• Congregating in groups of more than 3 in a specified area on a map that he has been supplied with
• Associating with a named individual
• Using in a public place, foul, abusive or threatening language directed at another in a specified area on a map that he has been supplied with.
• Being in possession of open containers of alcohol in a public place other than a licensed premises in a specified area on a map that he has been supplied with.
• Throwing stones or other missiles at or into another's property without their consent in a specified area on a map that he has been supplied with.
• Entering a resident's property without the owner's consent in a specified area on a map that he has been supplied with

Tony Oakman, Director of Adult and Neighbourhood Services at Stoke-on-Trent City Council, said: “The Safer City Partnership applied for the full order after a number of incidents provoked by Mr. Hancock around the Fegg Hayes area. The ASBO granted this week will mean that he can no longer subject people in the community to the type of behaviour he was engaged in before today.

This is an excellent example of how the city council, the police and the community can all work together to address an issue that has a direct, adverse effect on people’s lives.”

Inspector Mark Hardern from Tunstall Neighbourhood Policing Unit added: "I very much welcome the order against Mr Hancock, my officers have spent a great deal of time supporting the community affected by his behaviour. The ASBO now gives the local neighbourhood officers more powers to deal with Mr Hancock if he continues to cause alarm and distress to local residents.

I also want to thank the local residents who have come forward and supported the case, it's vital that members of the community affected by anti social behaviour come forward and speak to their local policing team or housing team who work with the community to tackle local issues."