A PROLIFIC offender who refused to put a stop to his persistent crime spree has been banned from Warrington town centre.

Adam Lees, of no fixed abode, was handed a Criminal Behaviour Order (CBO) during a hearing at Warrington Combined Court in May.
But the 30-year-old has now been jailed for six months after breaching the order for the third time.

PC Kerry Barber, from Cheshire Constabulary, said: “It takes a lot of work on behalf of the police to get the order imposed.

“It’s not meant as a punishment as it is attached to a conviction – the person has already been convicted and punished. 

“This is a form of protection for the community.”

The order will remain in place for two years but the police have the option to apply for an extension during this time.

PC Barber added: “Someone like Lees has been offered so much help and support over the past year from different partner agencies.

“He has constantly refused to accept help from anyone so he has been sent to prison for six months.

“We’re keen to show the public that the police and the courts do not tolerate persistent anti-social behaviour. 

“We want to let the community know that we will work to keep them safe and protect them from people like Lees.”

In Warrington town centre, five CBOs have been imposed in the past two years.

“There was one person who continued to cause problems,” said PC Barber.

“Part of the order was to accept help from Pathways.

“Since then we have received one call about this man and the order has been in place for a year.

“Before the order we might have received five or six calls a week so these orders do really help.

“Generally a first breach is a warning, a second breach is a suspended sentence and a third breach is around six months in prison so the courts do take them seriously.”