A PROLIFIC west Cumbrian offender has been slapped with a three-year criminal behaviour order after a spate of incidents.

Officers took the action to stop 32-year-old Joshua Thwaites, of Cross Street, Whitehaven, at Workington Magistrates’ Court on November 6.

PC Leesa Edwards, of the Allerdale local focus team, said: “This criminal behaviour order was a great outcome as Thwaites is a prolific offender and I hope that the conditions will allow him to reflect on and change his behaviour.

“The orders are a useful tool available to the courts which can help the offender to cease further criminality and help protect business owners.

“In this instance, the court agreed with our application for the order regarding a persistent offender who we continually have to deal with which takes away resources to those that genuinely require the help of officers.

“I would encourage anyone who witnesses the terms of such a court order being broken to contact the police immediately.

"The punishment for breaking the terms of a CBO can be up to five years in prison.

“Anyone who witnesses Joshua Thwaites breaching the terms of his criminal behaviour order should contact the police.”

The order stops Thwaites from entering

  • any property or premises that are members of the Workington Shopwatch Scheme at any time, and not to enter all other premises which display a Workington Shopwatch notice.
  • Not to enter the area of Workington.
  • Not to enter any Tesco’s stores in West Cumbria at any time
  • Not to enter the McColl’s shop at 81-85 Harrington Road, Workington, at any time.”

Anyone with information with regards to Thwaites' behaviour should ring the Cumbria Constabulary on 101.