Law -
Clamping down on crime?
A
teenager who terrorised his neighbourhood was hit
with the strictest anti-social behaviour order
ever — banning him from going out unless
with his mum or dad. After a court threw the book
at him, thieving yob Keenan Roberts, 17, whined,
“All I can do is stay home in front of the
telly.” But a police source said,
“He’s lucky he’s sitting at home
watching TV. Most people think he should be
locked up.” Magistrates imposed an amazing
list of restrictions after hearing cops had been
called out 45 times to deal with the lout.
Complaints included robbery, theft, criminal
damage, harassment, verbal abuse and racism. The
order bans Roberts from:
VENTURING out on to the Wybourn
estate in Sheffield unless with one of his
parents.
ENTERING any home without the
prior consent of the owner.
STEPPING into any garden,
allotment or school without permission.
SHOUTING, SWEARING
or SPITTING in public.
THROWING missiles or POSSESSING
any instrument which would alarm, harass or
distress others.
INSULTING or THREATENING
witnesses in court proceedings.
Police Inspector Stuart Edwards said, “Local
people were being put in fear of this young man.
Previous court appearances had not changed his
pattern of behaviour. Something had to be
done.” One bobby patrolling the estate said,
“He’s been running us ragged.
There’s been an endless stream of public
order problems. People were genuinely frightened
and he was driving us mad.” Roberts cannot
even visit his gran’s house round the corner
on his own. And he is barred from moving address
without the Sheffield court’s permission.
He faces immediate arrest and up to five years in
jail if he breaches any part of the two-year
order. The lout, who wears an electonic tag and
has just served half an 18-month sentence for
robbing a boy of his mobile, moaned,
“I’ve got aunties and uncles on the
estate as well as my gran, I can’t even go
and visit them. The police didn’t have to do
all this. Getting the 18-month sentence brought
me to my senses.” He added, “You get
fed up watching the screen every day but I’m
worried about going out because I’m banned
from doing so many things.”
Mum Dawn, 36, blasted the court, saying,
“They’ve made him a prisoner in his own
home. I accept he’s no angel but he’s
got blamed for things other kids have been
doing.” She admitted her son had been in
court for shoplifting, robbery and taking a
motorbike without consent. But she said,
“He’s trying his hardest to go
straight. He doesn’t deserve all this.”
Home
These articles
have been collected from various sources. If you
are the copyright owner of any of them, contact us for
either a credit and link to your site or removal
of the article.
--------------