A Beddau man who continued to throw vile, racist abuse at takeaway staff, even after he was jailed for doing so, has been placed on a strict Crime Related Anti Social Behaviour Order (CRASBO).
Scott Thomas, 24, is now banned from:
- Entering the shops area in Common Approach, Beddau at any time.
- Approaching or contacting any staff member from the Top Fry Fish Bar in Common Approach, Beddau, at any time.
- Being drunk in any public place in Rhondda Cynon Taf at any time, and;
- Committing, engaging in or inciting others to commit any act that is likely to cause harassment, alarm or distress to any person that is not in the same household as him, at anytime or anywhere in Rhondda Cynon Taf.
The order, which will run until October 20 2013, was placed upon Thomas at Pontypridd Magistrates’ Court today as his sentence for an offence of racially-aggravated harassment, committed against staff at Top Fry.
Staff from Rhondda Cynon Taf Community Safety Partnership attended court today determined to secure strict sanctions against Thomas, who has failed to heed previous warnings, including prison, about his behaviour.
They told the court how Thomas, of Centenary Court, has a previous conviction for racially aggravated harrassment, for which he was jailed for two months in March this year.
In this offence, he entered the Top Fry fish bar, clearly intoxicated, and began shouting vile abuse at staff when they mistakenly poured vinegar on his food. The language was appalling, leading to his arrest, conviction and imprisonment.
Just months later, on October 9 this year, he was back in the same premises, where he apologised for his earlier behaviour, only to be told by staff he was banned and could not have any food, at which point he shouted racial abuse at them.
As a result of this incident, Thomas was arrested and charged and put before Pontypridd Magistrates’ Court today, where he was given the CRASBO.
Paul Cannon, Chair of the Community Safety Partnership, said: “This is the latest in a series of successful applications for severe sanctions to be placed on the movement and behaviour of offenders within our community.
“Numerous people across the County Borough have recently been banned from entire town centres and other sections of their community as a result of their behaviour and Thomas is the latest.
“I hope this serves as a continued reassurance to residents and victims of crime that we will not tolerate such behaviour and do have effective measures to deal with them.
“I also hope it serves as a warning to offenders that we are watching them and we are now extremely effective at securing sanctions upon them.
“The CSP recently launched its Community Cohesion strategy which aims to ensure Rhondda Cynon Taf boasts secure, positive communities in which everyone feels they play a part – regardless of their race, religion, gender, sex, age or disability.
“This is a case where one person was having an impact on how others felt within their community and I am so pleased the courts have supported us with this CRASBO.
