Sonny Gardner

• ASBO Order Date: 09/05/2011
• ASBO Expiry Date: 09/05/2013

A man who was ordered out of Chester City centre seven times in the past ten months has now been banned from the area for two years.

Thirty one years old Sonny Gardner will not be able to go into the section of Chester bounded by the ring road without prior written consent from a Police Duty Inspector.

The previous temporary bans resulted from Police Officers serving him with Section Twenty Seven Notices, instructing him to leave the city centre and not to return within a specified number of hours. He breached five of the notices and was arrested on each occasion.

Constable Charlotte Lloyd, from the Chester Anti-Social Behaviour Unit said:

This gives an idea of the level of nuisance which Mr. Gardner has presented. When he drinks he becomes disorderly, abusive and aggressive. It can be very unpleasant for people who live, work, shop in, or just visit the city centre.

His behaviour wastes a lot of police time and means officers may not be available to deal with other issues. It is something we and our partner agencies are determined to stop.

Over the past four years Sonny Gardner has been convicted of numerous offences, including using abusive and threatening words and behaviour, assault, being drunk and disorderly, possessing heroin, obstructing Police Officers, burglary, shoplifting, exposure, breach of conditional discharges, breach of bail conditions and begging.

Following a conviction earlier this year, the unit decided to apply for an Anti-Social Behaviour Order. This has now been accepted by him and approved by magistrates. It includes the city centre ban.

Mr. Gardner is also barred from using foul, abusive, or intimidating language or behaviour in any public place; prohibited from drinking in any public place, other than in licensed premises; banned from being in possession of alcohol in an open container in any public place and banned from urinating or defecating in a public place, other than in public toilets. All the terms of the order will run for two years.

Sonny Gardner has had many opportunities to improve his behaviour but has never shown any inclination to do that or engage with agencies which can help. This new order may prompt a change of direction and will certainly remove a substantial problem affecting other people in the city centre.

Inspector Ian Thorp, who leads on the Policing of Chester City Centre, said:

The Police work very closely with Cheshire West and Chester Council to improve the atmosphere for those residents, visitors and workers that visit the City Centre.

We are committed to taking firm and positive action against any individual who reduces the quality of life for other people in the City Centre. This action should send a firm message to criminals and anyone intent on causing disorder in the area that behaviour such as that which Mr Gardner has displayed will not be tolerated.

A summary of what Sonny Gardener is prohibited from doing:

• Entering the exclusion zone (Chester City Centre) as defined by the ring road, without the prior written consent of the Duty Inspector.
• Using or encouraging other to used foul, abusive, insulting, offensive, threatening, disorderly or intimidating language or behaviour in any public place or towards any person.
• Urinating or defecating in a public place, other than in public conveniences.
• Drinking in a public place, except on licensed premises with the consent of the licensee.
• Being in possession of an opened container of alcohol in any public place (with the exception of alcohol purchased and consumed with the consent of the licensee).