Police secure order against doorstep nuisance

Neighbourhood police have secured a court order to protect vulnerable residents from an aggressive doorstep salesman.

Steven Langley has been handed a Criminal Behaviour Order (CBO) which bans him from attempting to sell items door-to-door for three years.

Officers from Rushcliffe Neighbourhood Policing Team sought the order after arresting Langley in Gotham on 21 March 2024.

Police were called around 1pm after Langley turned up at a man’s home, smelling of alcohol and offering to sell goods from a holdall.

When the resident said no, Langley reacted aggressively and threatened to spit at the victim before spitting on the floor.

He was then seen to go from door-to-door knocking.

Officers were called to the scene and detained Langley a short time later.

The 44-year-old, of no fixed abode, pleaded guilty to acting as a pedlar without a pedlar’s certificate when he appeared at Nottingham Magistrates’ Court on Friday (17 May).

He was given a three-year CBO and ordered to pay court costs.

Under the terms of the order, Langley is prohibited from;

• Acting as a pedlar in the County of Nottinghamshire, by selling or attempting to sell items door-to-door at any private or commercial address or in any public place;
• Being in possession of a bag containing items reasonably believed for sale door-to-door on private driveways, private gardens, public footpaths or roads.

Police Constable Matt Holden, of Nottinghamshire Police, said:

“We’re delighted to have obtained this criminal behaviour order against Langley, who has been tormenting residents in a number of local villages.

“A lot of work goes into securing these orders but it is all worth it because they can be extremely effective at preventing this sort of offending.

“By having this order in place, we know that if Langley targets people on their doorsteps again he is likely to find himself behind bars.

“We know elderly and vulnerable residents, particularly in our rural areas, can be intimidated by this sort of behaviour.

“I hope people who have been affected by this sort of offending themselves are reassured by our robust response and the hard work which has gone into securing this order.”

You can request 'no uninvited callers' stickers from Nottinghamshire County Council's website.