CBO given to man from Haverhill

A Haverhill man has been given a Criminal Behaviour Order (CBO) restricting his consumption of alcohol and banning him from approaching anyone under the age of 18.

Robert Rooney, (pictured above) of Eastern Avenue, appeared at Ipswich Magistrates Court on Wednesday, October 29, and was handed the CBO, which was granted for 24 months.

A failure to adhere to these requirements will mean he will be committing a criminal offence for which he could be sent to prison and/or ordered to pay a fine.

The imposition of these requirements as part of the CBO follows two incidents that Rooney was charged with.

These were two cases of Anti-Social Behaviour (ASB), one of which took place on July 22 where he behaved in a drunk and disorderly manner in Haverhill High Street, and the other of which took place on February 20 in which he approached individuals under the age of e18, which was a breach of a previous Community Protection Notice (CPN).

The conditions in the 71-year-old’s CBO state that he must not:

• Approach anyone under the age of 18 for any reason unless for a legitimate, verifiable emergency and not to ask them any personal questions in any way whatsoever. This would cover the asking of sexual questions or questions such as where they live/how old they are etc.
• Approach anyone under the age of 18 and offer them money/cash/loose change of any description.
• Be in possession of any opened vessel containing alcoholic liquid in any public place within the map unless they are purchased, a receipt is available, and they are in a carrier bag with no intention to be consumed on the street

PC Jack Oakley said: “The recent granting of a Criminal Behaviour Order (CBO) against Mr Rooney is the culmination of months of work by Haverhill’s Community Policing Team.

“The imposed conditions are designed to limit his opportunity to commit further offences while having the minimal impact on the normal tasks associated with anyone’s daily life.

“The constabulary remains committed to using this type of legislation to prevent offending wherever possible in cases where a custodial sentence may be disproportionate or ineffective and we hope this brings a level of reassurance to the people of Haverhill.”