Woman given a three-year Criminal Behaviour Order

A woman has been given a three-year Criminal Behaviour Order after pleading guilty for failing to comply with a Community Protection Notice (CPN).

Kerry Fern Martin, 45, from Tunstall, was issued with a three-year Criminal Behaviour Order at the North Staffordshire Justice Centre on Monday (14 February) after admitting four counts of failing to comply with a CPN.

The order issued has the following conditions:
• Not to leave litter or waste within the area outlined by Waterloo Road, Greyhound Way, Pavillion Drive, Ridgehouse Road, Etruria Road and Potteries Way in Hanley and clean away litter or waste when asked to do so
• Not to beg or present themselves in such a position to cause members of the public to give her money or goods in the City of Stoke-on-Trent
• Not to be abusive or aggressive towards service users, members of staff of any business premises or members of the emergency service
• Not to sit in any doorway or entrance to a business in Stoke-on-Trent.

The court heard how Martin breached her CPN on four occasions between November and December of last year.

On 29 November 2021 at around 4pm on Birch Terrace, Hanley, the she was sat on a public pathway surrounded by litter and begging. A couple of hours later when she left, the litter and food surrounding her was left behind.

On 16 December 2021 at around 9.05am on Lichfield Street, Hanley, Martin once again sat on a public pathway. Six hours later and on the same street, an officer saw the offender sat on a public pathway and asking passersby for money.

Four days later (20 December 2021) at around 9.35pm on Lichfield Street, Hanley, an officer, who was wearing a black police issue coat with epaulettes on, walked past Martin who was sat on a public pathway. As the officer walked by, the offender asked him for money, not recognising them to be a police officer at the time. The offender then recognised him to be a police officer and began to get aggressive.

Martin was then arrested on suspicion of failing to comply with a community protection notice and later charged with four counts of the offence.

She appeared before North Staffordshire Justice Centre at an earlier hearing on 22 December 2021.

Sergeant Chris Gifford, of Stoke North Neighbourhood Policing Team, welcomed the CBO – and says officers will continue to target those who cause issues across the city. He said: “The message to individuals who persistently cause problems in our communities is simple – we will take action.

“Our officers are regularly visiting businesses in Stoke-on-Trent to not only show our presence in the area, but to find out what issues they are experiencing and what we can do to support them.

“If anyone does have any concerns we urge them to get in touch and we would also ask the public to make us aware if anyone in receipt of an order breaches it.”