Assault and threats man banned from village

A Criminal Behaviour order (CBO) was imposed on Marcus Crossland, formerly of Bilsthorpe and now of Willington Road, Doncaster, after Nottingham Magistrates found him guilty of one count of assault and two counts of threatening behaviour and harassment.

Crossland also pleaded guilty to breaching an earlier CBO.

Under the terms of the CBO secured by Newark and Sherwood District Council in partnership with Nottinghamshire Police, he received a six-month prison sentence, suspended for two years and a requirement to undertake 100 hours of unpaid work within the next 12 months.

He was also ordered to pay a £115 victim surcharge and £350 toward prosecution costs.

Crossland was placed under a curfew at his new address which means he cannot leave his home between 7pm and 7am daily, effective until February 27, 2018.

In the police and district council’s application for the CBO, magistrates were told that Crossland’s anti-social behaviour had a damaging effect on some residents of Bilsthorpe stretching back to March 2017.

The court heard that a number of residents had become so frightened at what Crossland might do to them that they were fearful of both returning to and living at home.

It was further heard that Crossland had a disregard for the lives of others, was aggressive toward the police and lacked respect for authority.

The new CBO, which runs until January 17, 2020, confirmed the terms of the original order which barred Crossland from:

Approaching,contacting or communicating with, in any way either directly or indirectly, through any means with 10 named individuals;

Not to cause harassment, alarm or distress to anyone by being abusive, threatening and intimidating or by using aggressive language in an area of Newark and Sherwood.

In court the new term of ‘not to enter Bilsthorpe for any reason’ was agreed by District Judge Gregos.

Under the Anti-social Behaviour, Crime and Policing Act (2014), a breach of any of the CBO conditions is a criminal offence and will lead to his arrest and imprisonment.

Terry Bailey, district council anti-social behaviour officer, said: “Crossland had been unable to stop himself from committing further offences despite a court order being in place.

The council and police felt that they had no alternative but to ask the court to stop Crossland from entering the village.

We hope that this will provide extra protection and assurance to those who have suffered harassment, alarm and distress at the hands of Crossland.”

Police Sergeant Christian Hurley, of Nottinghamshire Police, said: “This is an excellent example of partnership working, and will hopefully have a positive effect of the lives of the tenants and residents of Bilsthorpe. It will also send a message to the perpetrators that legal action will be taken against those who commit anti-social behaviour in our communities.”