Two Runcorn men jailed for breaching Criminal Behaviour Order

Two men from Runcorn have been jailed after they breached a Criminal Behaviour Order (CBO) which banned them from associating with each other.

Dean Potter and Callum Pope were both issued with five-year criminal behaviour orders in 2019.

The CBOs were imposed on the pair due to their repeated involvement in anti-social behaviour, drug dealing and threatening behaviour in the Runcorn area.

Yet despite the order, at 10am on Friday 10 June Potter collected Pope from HMP Risley, following his release from prison, to drive him back to Runcorn.

The pair were subsequently arrested by officers on the Daresbury Expressway after officers spotted them travelling together in Pope’s grey Ford Focus.

Both men were subsequently charged with breaching their Criminal behaviour orders.

Pope, aged 22, of Lime Gove, Runcorn, and 24-year-old Potter, both appeared at Crewe Magistrates’ Court on Saturday 11 June where they pleaded guilty to the charge.

Pope, of Lime Gove, Runcorn, was sentenced to eight-months in prison and ordered to pay £156 surcharge.

Potter, Victoria Road, Higher Runcorn, was jailed for six months and ordered to pay £128 surcharge.

Following the sentencing Chief Inspector Andrew Blizard said: “It is beyond belief that that Pope would breach the terms of his CBO within minutes of him being released from prison by getting a lift home from Potter.

“The pair were well aware that they were banned from associating with each other, yet they chose to get into a car together. As a result of that action both of the men are now behind bars.”