Banned from Blackwood: Teen handed court order to stay away or face arrest

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A teenager has been handed a two-year criminal behaviour order (CBO) banning her from certain parts of Blackwood town.

At a hearing at Newport Magistrates Court on Tuesday April 29, Tilly Giles, 18, of Marianwen Street, Cefn Fforest, was told she is no longer allowed to enter Blackwood Gate Retail Park, or Blackwood Bus Station (between the hours of 7pm and 7am).

Inspector Chris Hopkin, of Gwent Police, who leads the neighbourhood policing team in Blackwood, said: “These orders aren’t issued lightly and are often only considered after we’ve worked with the individual and partners to try to resolve the issue.

“Unfortunately, our attempts to work with this young woman to turn her reckless and disorderly behaviour around haven’t had the desired effect, leading us to taking the rare step to issue a CBO to someone so young.

“We recognise Tilly is still young, however, and hope the result in court opens her eyes to the impact her behaviour has had on the town and community over recent months.”

The court heard the order was being issued following a string of reports in February when Giles, then 17, was arrested on suspicion of offences including assaulting an emergency worker.

She was also arrested on suspicion of failing to comply with a community protection notice, criminal damage, using threatening words, and displaying behaviour likely to cause harassment, alarm or distress.

Inspector Hopkin added: “Earlier this year, we saw an increase in reports of antisocial behaviour across the town and carried out a multi-agency operation to tackle it.

“The use of dispersal orders, increased patrols and enforcement activity where numerous arrests were made resulted in reports decreasing, and I hope this CBO helps this trend continue.

“Officers remain committed to tackling antisocial behaviour, and, while reports have decreased recently, we will continue to carry out additional patrols in the town.”

If Giles breaches any of the conditions detailed in her CBO, which runs until April 29, 2027, she will be committing a criminal offence and could face arrest. If found guilty, she may be fined, sentenced to imprisonment, or both.

As well as the CBO, the court imposed a community order which requires Giles to complete a number of rehabilitation activity requirements and carry out 100 hours of unpaid community work.