Nuisance offender banned from city centre for three years

Neighbourhood police have secured a court order to protect businesses and the public from a prolific offender.

Jonathan Chattin, aged 36, has been handed a Criminal Behaviour Order (CBO) which bans him from large swathes of Nottingham city centre for three years.

The only locations he can attend are Nottingham Central Jobcentre, Nottingham Probation Office, Emmanuel House Support Centre, Nottingham Wellbeing Hub and Glasshouse Chemist.

This is so he can access support services to help him turn his life around.

Officers from the City Centre Neighbourhood Policing Team sought the order following a plethora of incidents in recent times.

Magistrates heard Chattin, previously of Bingham Road, Carrington, Nottingham, had been frequently arrested in the past three years for offences such a robbery, theft, assault and possession of Class A drugs.

Under the terms of the order, Chattin is prohibited from entering an exclusion area as mapped out in his CBO.

Magistrates granted the CBO on Friday (31 January) after hearing detailed evidence from Sergeant Jono Pothecary, of the City Centre neighbourhood policing team.

In a statement to the court, Sgt Pothecary outlined the impact of Chattin’s frequent offending, which includes harassing members of the public by persistently begging.

Sgt Pothecary (pictured above) said in his statement:

“Begging is rife in the City of Nottingham. Beggars are signposted by the police to the relevant local authority services to get the help they need. I have spoken to John Chattin many times of which I have tried to prevent him from committing offences.

“Owing to this I have a good understanding of the help and support available to this individual. John Chattin was not at the time of this initial application homeless. However he has since rendered himself homeless by giving the keys back to his property despite advice from services and police not to do this. He is now often seen sleeping rough and begging in the city centre.

“Begging should not be underestimated as this causes harassment, alarm and distress to citizens using the city for either shopping, entertainment, or for the nighttime economy. Many families with young children attend the city and report feeling especially harassed when approached in this manner.

“Often Chattin will leave litter where he has been sat and often leave drug paraphernalia. This litter mostly needs to be cleaned by the local council at an expense to the public. The risk that drug paraphernalia possess to the public and in particularly small children should not be underestimated. In his latest offending he spat at a shop worker whilst imitating that he had a contagious disease. This is disgusting and no one should ever be subject to being assaulted, never mind in this way.

“He is a very difficult individual to deal with in custody as he is known for making comments to try and frustrate the process of dealing with him whilst in custody. He has spat in a police vehicle, spat at the custody desk and spat at me through the cell door whilst he was under constant observations due to his behaviour and demeanour in custody.

“We have exhausted the options that are available to us, and I am left with no option other than to suggest to the court that Chattin be made subject to a Criminal Behaviour Order.

“This I believe will have a significant positive impact on the city centre and would lead to a reduction of crime and make those who visit, live and work in Nottingham feel much safer.”

Speaking after the CBO was secured, Sgt Pothecary said:

“The court granting this order today will go a long way in reducing Mr Chattin’s offending and the disruption to local people and businesses that he has subjected them to previously.

“There is significant help and support offered to individuals before we take action to apply for orders such as these. It is still my hope that one day Mr Chattin will reflect on all of his offending and realise that reform is needed.

“It is also my hope that others who commit offences in our great city take note of this order being granted and understand there will be consequences if you come here to commit offences or impact on the majority of people who just want to be able go about their lawful business feeling safe.”