Man jailed for repeatedly breaching anti-social behaviour injunction in Great Yarmouth

David Steventon, 58, has been a familiar figure in the centre of the town for the past few years, often outside the Sports Direct store and, latterly, in the doorway of a former cash-and-carry shop in King Street.

An anti-social behaviour injunction was granted against him in November 2024 which prevented him entering parts of the town centre and Gorleston because his street drinking and behaviour was causing such a nuisance to the public.

The injunction followed repeated attempts by a number of agencies, including the council, to assist Steventon, who uses a wheelchair. This included sourcing accommodation where his drinking was permitted.

But in a prosecution brought by the council, Great Yarmouth Magistrates' Court heard Steventon had repeatedly breached the injunction, which was put in place under the borough's public spaces protection order.

He was convicted of seven breaches of the order and, at a hearing at the court, he was sentenced to 16 weeks in prison. Once released, he faces arrest if he fails to meet the terms of the order. 

Sentencing Steventon, of no fixed abode, district Judge Spencer said there were a number of aggravating factors to the case - there was no mitigation to speak of and the defendant was a significant public nuisance. Judge Spencer also noted Steventon's repeated disobedience towards the court. He awarded the council £7,130.68 in costs.

Councillor Paul Wells, Great Yarmouth Borough Council's portfolio holder for Environment and Sustainability, Licensing and Waste, said: ''Our officers, the police and a number of other organisations have worked extremely hard to assist the defendant. However, all these interventions have failed and it was important we brought this prosecution to protect the public.

''There are a small number of people whose anti-social behaviour has a negative impact on the lives of people using the town centre. Where necessary we will use all the legal tools at our disposal to take appropriate action.

''Residents have repeatedly made clear they want a clean, safe and welcoming town and where anti-social behaviour is affecting that, we will act.''