Offenders re-arrested for breaching anti-social behaviour injunctions
Two offenders have been arrested after failing to comply with the terms of their injunction orders, which were put in place to protect vulnerable residents.
In January, Joanne Reay, Kevin May and Natasha Newton were handed anti-social behaviour injunctions under the Anti-social Behaviour, Crime and Policing Act 2014. The injunctions were given after they used threatening and coercive behaviour to take advantage of vulnerable Gateshead residents, including using their properties to drink and take drugs, physical assaults and stealing food and benefits payments.
The injunction orders banned Reay and Newton from entering an area of Gateshead including Sherriff Hill, Beacon Lough and Whitehills, and also from entering Milton Road, Swalwell.
Since the injunctions took effect on 27 January 2023, both Reay, 45, and Newton, 29, have been arrested for breaching their terms. Both had been found by the police within the exclusion area.
Reay and Newton appeared in the County Court sitting at the Combined Court Centre in Newcastle on 24 February 2023.
Reay pleaded guilty to 6 breaches of the injunction in total and was sentenced to 8 weeks imprisonment, suspended for the duration of the injunction order. She was also ordered to pay £275 in costs.
Newton also admitted to breaching the terms. Sentencing was adjourned until the end of the injunction order, conditional on no further breaches of the order being committed.
Both Reay and Newton were warned by the District Judge that the exclusion area was still in force and any further breaches of the injunction terms will result in arrest and potential jail time.
Councillor Angela Douglas, Chair of the Community Safety Board, said: "These injunctions were put in place to protect our residents from further harassment, intimidation and distress caused by these individuals.
Everyone deserves to feel safe in their own home and community and the impact of anti-social behaviour can be incredibly harmful, even for those who are not directly targeted. Breaching the injunctions within a matter of days shows a blatant disregard for the original sentence, but the fact that both offenders were immediately arrested sends a strong message that the terms of the orders must be respected. Failing to abide by them will lead to serious consequences.
We will continue to work closely with Northumbria Police to keep our neighbourhoods safe and take action against anyone whose anti-social behaviour is making life a misery for others."
Report anti-social behaviour (opens new window)
Inspector Kevin Ashurst, of Northumbria Police, said:
"We will not tolerate offenders breaking injunction orders which have been imposed upon them.
Law-abiding residents living in our communities should feel safe and secure when going about their daily lives, which is why we applied to have these restrictions in the first place.
Make no mistake, if we discover or are made aware that they are not abiding by the terms of their injunctions, we will not hesitate to take further action against them."
In addition to prohibiting Reay and Newton from entering the exclusion zone, the injunction forbids Reay, Newton and May from causing harassment, alarm or distress, nuisance or annoyance, to any person in Gateshead, by using or threatening violence towards people or property, demanding money from any person using threats or intimidation, using another person's property for abusing drugs and alcohol, and taking money, food, and alcohol from any person without their permission.
Anyone who witnesses Joanne Reay, Kevin May, or Natasha Newton breaching the conditions of their injunctions should call Northumbria Police on 101, or report it online (opens new window).
Image: Northumbria Police copyright - no reproduction without permission.
Two offenders have been arrested after failing to comply with the terms of their injunction orders, which were put in place to protect vulnerable residents.
In January, Joanne Reay, Kevin May and Natasha Newton were handed anti-social behaviour injunctions under the Anti-social Behaviour, Crime and Policing Act 2014. The injunctions were given after they used threatening and coercive behaviour to take advantage of vulnerable Gateshead residents, including using their properties to drink and take drugs, physical assaults and stealing food and benefits payments.
The injunction orders banned Reay and Newton from entering an area of Gateshead including Sherriff Hill, Beacon Lough and Whitehills, and also from entering Milton Road, Swalwell.
Since the injunctions took effect on 27 January 2023, both Reay, 45, and Newton, 29, have been arrested for breaching their terms. Both had been found by the police within the exclusion area.
Reay and Newton appeared in the County Court sitting at the Combined Court Centre in Newcastle on 24 February 2023.
Reay pleaded guilty to 6 breaches of the injunction in total and was sentenced to 8 weeks imprisonment, suspended for the duration of the injunction order. She was also ordered to pay £275 in costs.
Newton also admitted to breaching the terms. Sentencing was adjourned until the end of the injunction order, conditional on no further breaches of the order being committed.
Both Reay and Newton were warned by the District Judge that the exclusion area was still in force and any further breaches of the injunction terms will result in arrest and potential jail time.
Councillor Angela Douglas, Chair of the Community Safety Board, said: "These injunctions were put in place to protect our residents from further harassment, intimidation and distress caused by these individuals.
Everyone deserves to feel safe in their own home and community and the impact of anti-social behaviour can be incredibly harmful, even for those who are not directly targeted. Breaching the injunctions within a matter of days shows a blatant disregard for the original sentence, but the fact that both offenders were immediately arrested sends a strong message that the terms of the orders must be respected. Failing to abide by them will lead to serious consequences.
We will continue to work closely with Northumbria Police to keep our neighbourhoods safe and take action against anyone whose anti-social behaviour is making life a misery for others."
Report anti-social behaviour (opens new window)
Inspector Kevin Ashurst, of Northumbria Police, said:
"We will not tolerate offenders breaking injunction orders which have been imposed upon them.
Law-abiding residents living in our communities should feel safe and secure when going about their daily lives, which is why we applied to have these restrictions in the first place.
Make no mistake, if we discover or are made aware that they are not abiding by the terms of their injunctions, we will not hesitate to take further action against them."
In addition to prohibiting Reay and Newton from entering the exclusion zone, the injunction forbids Reay, Newton and May from causing harassment, alarm or distress, nuisance or annoyance, to any person in Gateshead, by using or threatening violence towards people or property, demanding money from any person using threats or intimidation, using another person's property for abusing drugs and alcohol, and taking money, food, and alcohol from any person without their permission.
Anyone who witnesses Joanne Reay, Kevin May, or Natasha Newton breaching the conditions of their injunctions should call Northumbria Police on 101, or report it online (opens new window).
Image: Northumbria Police copyright - no reproduction without permission.
