A “violent and disruptive” offender who was a ringleader of trouble in Tonyrefail has been banned from all public places in RCT during set times as a result of his behaviour.
Luke Dee was identified by the Rhondda Cynon Taf Community Safety Partnership as one of a core group of older offenders responsible for unacceptable levels of crime, disorder and anti-social behaviour being reported in Tonyrefail.
Despite being aged 20, Luke associated with males and females aged between 13 and 16, many of whom looked up to him and copied his behaviour.
Such association caused concern in terms of the behaviour being displayed by large groups of youths as a result, and also fears about their health and personal safety being endangered due to underage and binge drinking.
These gatherings led to complaints from residents of groups of up to 100 youths at a time gathering in public areas, causing crime, nuisance, violence and intimidation, with calls for action led by local Councillors Eudine Hanagan, Russell Roberts and Bob McDonald.
The main problem areas were outside the Rhondda Bowl and Tonyrefail Leisure Centre, Mill Road and Waunrhydd Road.
As a result, additional police patrols were introduced and the Friday Night Squad took to the streets with anti-social behaviour officers, youth workers, Probation and Youth Offending Team staff and others to disperse troublesome groups, seize alcohol and engage with young people in a bid to divert them into more positive social activities.
Alongside this sustained action, which continues to this day, a targeted operation began against those who were identified as being the ringleaders of the problems.
Luke Dee has been known to the Community Safety Partnership Anti Social Behaviour Team since he was 16, following an incident at the Rhondda Bowl where he was annoying staff and patrons – at this age, he was already banned from the venue and its car park due to his behaviour.
Since that time, he has received 16 Anti Social Behaviour Referrals for arson, verbal abuse, threatening behaviour, drinking alcohol and being under the influence of alcohol in public places, throwing stones and other missiles at people and property and assault.
Despite repeated warnings and interventions from officers at the Community Safety Partnership, the issues have continued and escalated, to the point that they appeared in Rhondda Magistrates’ Court this week to secure an Anti Social Behaviour Order against Dee, of Cae’r Gwerlas.
The court considered a significant dossier of evidence against Luke Dee, including statements from Police and anti-social behaviour officers who have dealt with him and his offending in the last four years.
The bench also considered shocking CCTV footage that showed Dee launching himself at a visitor from Australia in an unprovoked attack.
As a result, they imposed an Anti Social Behaviour Order on him that will run until February 9 2012 and includes the sanctions:
For the first six months of the order, Dee is not allowed in any public place anywhere in RCT between the hours of 8pm and 6am.
He is banned from entering the area of Tonyrefail that includes the leisure centre, bowling alley, Tyn-y-Bryn playing fields and Nant Eirin until 2012.
He is banned from drinking, being under the influence of or in possession of alcohol in any public place in RCT until 2012
He is banned from using verbally abusive or threatening language or behaviour against any person until 2012.
Phil Bevan, Head of the Rhondda Cynon Taf Community Safety Partnership, said: “This is a significant success for us and the communities of Tonyrefail who have suffered from Luke Dee’s behaviour for long enough.
“We warned at the start of our work in the area that we were aware of who the main offenders were and we would take action against them.
“The sanctions secured by this week’s anti-social behaviour order were significant and I hope it serves as a lesson to Dee and a warning to others that we take these issues extremely seriously and will not tolerate the quality of life of others being ruined by a mindless minority.”
Inspector Mike Jones, who heads Neighbourhood Policing in Tonyrefail, added: “For too long, the partnership have been dealing of complaints about unacceptable behaviour and offending from a core group of offenders.
“However, as well as acting in an intimidating manner towards others in the area, Dee also acted as a role model to others and we have no doubt he is a ringleader of most problems in the area, due to the influence he holds over younger people.
“At the height of the problems, people were afraid to use facilities such as the park, bowling alley, library and leisure centre due to the intimidation caused to them by Dee and others..
“However, we have acted on behalf of those residents and hope they can benefit from the fact we have not let this offender win, but have, instead, sought the support of the courts to remove him from the area.”
