Council secures Criminal Behaviour Order to clamp down on antisocial behaviour

Anthony Cocking currently of St Leonards Street, Hendon, could face prison if he breaches the Criminal Behaviour Order secured against him at South Tyneside Magistrates Court on Wednesday 25 May.

The case was brought following reports of fighting, abusive language and noise disturbances outside properties where Mr Cocking was living with his partner. 

This is the second time in two years that Cocking has come to the Neighbourhood Enforcement Team's attention. In February 2021 neighbours living near his previous addresses in Argyle Square contacted Northumbria Police with reports of fighting, abusive language and noise disturbances outside the property, along with numerous visitors regularly attending his property.

This was causing harassment, alarm and distress to residents who had lived in the area for many years. 

In response the City Council, in partnership with Northumbria Police, served Cocking with a Community Protection Warning (CPW) and subsequently with a Community Protection Notice (CPN) in a bid to curb his behaviour. When this antisocial behaviour continued, Northumbria Police, with support from the City Council, obtained a full closure order at the property.   

However, soon after the team received further complaints linked to Cocking at another address in Salem Street.  These related to visitors to the address causing disturbances, loud music being played at the address and local residents living in fear, prompting the council to seek a Criminal Behaviour Order.

Cocking did not appear in court on Wednesday 25 May, but the Criminal Behaviour Order was secured in his absence, alongside a two-year conditional discharge for the breach of CPN.

Councillor Claire Rowntree, Deputy Leader of Sunderland City Council and cabinet member for environment and transport, said: "This is someone who has repeatedly made his neighbours lives a misery at numerous addresses so I'm delighted that we've been able to secure a criminal behaviour order against him.

"Residents have every right to feel safe where they live without being subjected to this kind of anti-social behaviour and I hope that this action sends out a strong message that this is not something we are prepared to tolerate." 

The Criminal Behaviour Order which sets out what Cocking must do and refrain from causing any further distress to the community to avoid further punishment. 

The order will remain in place for two years and applies to any address Cocking resides at.  A breach of the order could impose a maximum sentence of up to five years imprisonment or a fine or both.    

In the last 12 months, Sunderland City Council has also secured seven closure orders on problem properties to tackle ASB, as well as 142 Community Protection Warnings and 44 Community Protection Notices.