Bassetlaw District Council v Peter Downs

Facts

Bassetlaw District Council brought committal proceedings against Peter Downs for breach of an Anti-Social Behaviour Injunction. The injunction had been made on 18 August 2025, the court having concluded that the defendant had engaged in anti-social behaviour in Worksop town centre: he had frequently flouted the Worksop Public Spaces Protection Order, presenting as intoxicated, gathering in groups, carrying alcohol and being abusive or refusing to comply with reasonable requests to disperse. The order prohibited him from entering or remaining within a defined area of Worksop town centre, was supported by a power of arrest, and was to remain in force until 18 August 2027. It was personally served on him on 24 August 2025 at Worksop Bus Station and no issue was taken with service. His compliance history was poor. Following a contested contempt hearing, District Judge Wall found him in contempt for entering the exclusion zone on 27 August 2025 and imposed 14 days' imprisonment suspended for six months, varying the injunction to permit limited access to specified roads and the railway station. Further breaches were dealt with by District Judge Dinan-Hayward and District Judge Heppell. Alleged December 2025 breaches were not pursued. He was arrested at a branch of Greggs within the exclusion zone on the morning of the hearing.