A Swindon man has been banned from the Railway Village after months of carrying out threatening and anti-social behaviour.
Following a hearing on Friday, November 19, William O’Driscoll, has been issued with a court injunction which also stops him from entering any Swindon Borough Council property in the entire local authority.
The successful application was made by Swindon Borough Council and the South Central Neighbourhood Policing Team following numerous disturbances and incidents involving the 40-year-old.
O’Driscoll received an interim order on November 5, which he almost immediately breached.
On Friday, November 20, an injunction was issued to O’Driscoll which prohibits him from:
(i) (whether by himself or by instructing or encouraging or permitting any other person) behave in a manner which has caused or is likely to cause alarm, harassment or distress to any person in the borough of Swindon.
(ii) (whether by himself or by instructing or encouraging or permitting any other person) use or threaten violence against any person whilst he is in the borough of Swindon.
(iii) Enter any residential property owned or managed by Swindon Borough Council, with the borough of Swindon, save where he is a tenant with a tenancy agreement at the property.
(iv) Enter or remain in the restricted area, the Railway Village.
The court issued a power of arrest to this injunction, meaning that if he is found to have breached any of the above clauses, which will also activate a suspended sentence of 40 weeks.
The injunction is valid for two years.
PC Nick Finning, neighbourhood police officer for Broadgreen and The Railway Village, said: “This order will hopefully bring some relief to those in the Railway Village and elsewhere who have suffered the behaviour Mr O’Driscoll over a number of months.
“We will always act when we can on reports made to us of anti-social behaviour and it’s through the diligence of the local community that we have been able to gather the evidence we require.
“A special thanks also goes to our local ASB lead PC Michael Diffin MBE who was a keen driving force in working with the council on this injunction.
“We are committed to tackling anti-social behaviour and encourage a dialogue with our communities to tackle such incidents. If you are affected by such behaviour please contact us on 101 or anonymously, via Crimestoppers, on 0800 555 111.”
Cllr Cathy Martyn, Swindon Borough Council’s Cabinet Member for Housing and Public Safety, said: “The Council, led through the work of our Community Safety Team and working with Wiltshire Police, takes incidents of anti-social behaviour very seriously.
“This is a concerning and persistent case and in these circumstances we will not shy away from taking the toughest possible enforcement action for the benefit of neighbours and the local community.”
