A Gillingham man has been handed a criminal behaviour order following repeated domestic abuse incidents and complaints about anti-social behaviour.
Phillip Robert Torrance, aged 36, was made subject to the order when he appeared at Weymouth Magistrates’ Court on Friday 15 March 2019 to be sentenced for three offences of common assault, criminal damage and possessing a class A drug.
He had entered guilty pleas to the offences, which all occurred between Sunday 23 December and Thursday 27 December 2018 at Paris Court in Gillingham. Torrance was also sentenced to five months in prison.
Officers from the local neighbourhood policing team worked with the housing association responsible for the address, which had received a number of complaints about verbal abuse and anti-social behaviour involving Torrance, as well as the council’s community safety team to put forward an application for a criminal behaviour order before the court.
The order will run for three years until 15 March 2022 and states that Torrance must not:
• Behave in any way that causes harassment alarm or distress to any persons in Dorset
• Use threatening, intimidating, insulting or abusive words or behaviour in any place to which the public has access in Dorset
• Enter any block in Paris Court, Gillingham
• Be drunk in any place to which the public has access in Dorset.
Police Sergeant James Dimmack, of the North Dorset Neighbourhood Policing Team, said: “Dorset Police will not tolerate domestic abuse in any form and will take all action available to us to protect those who are victims of this offending.
“Phillip Torrance’s anti-social behaviour also caused considerable distress to his neighbouring residents and I am pleased we have been able to work with the housing association and community safety team to help protect those residents from further misery at the hands of the defendant.”
If you are experiencing domestic abuse, or if you know someone who is, there are many organisations that can help. Call the National Domestic Violence Helpline on: 0808 2000 247 or visit: www.dorsetforyou.com/dvahelp.
In an emergency – if a crime is in progress or life is in danger – please dial 999. For non-emergencies please visit www.dorset.police.uk/do-it-online or call 101.
