A pair have been banned from a host of North East retail stores after being arrested nearly 400 times for antisocial behaviour.
Anne Marie Simpson, 36, of Woodbine Street, Bensham, and her partner Christopher Rutherford, 40, of Hazlett Avenue, South Shields, were both handed two-year criminal behaviour orders earlier this month for their “relentless” activities.
Simpson has been arrested more than 190 times, and has previously been arrested for offences including assault, burglary and robbery. She will be arrested on entering any Asda, Heron Foods, Sainsbury’s and Tesco stores in the Northumbria Police area, as well as Next or Wilko in South Shields town centre.
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Meanwhile, Rutherford has been arrested more than 170 times and has previously been arrested for offences including burglary, drug offences and robbery. He pleaded guilty after the incident saw him verbally abuse a staff member at Tesco Express on Prince Edward Road in South Shields on November 14, 2022, and was sentenced to one month behind bars – as well as being handed the order to prevent further criminality. This sees him banned from Asda, Heron Foods, Next, Sainsbury’s and Tesco stores across South Tyneside.
An exclusion zone has also been set up barring Rutherford from setting foot in areas covering Prince Edward Road to the Coast Road, Ocean Road and King Street towards Station Road, and Westoe Road towards King George Road, unless for a planned appointment.
Both Criminal Behaviour Orders were granted in February and are set to expire in two years’ time in 2025.
Inspector Louise McClennan, of Northumbria Police, said: “We hope those who live, work in and visit South Shields – and also the wider area – will join us in welcoming the restrictions placed upon Simpson and Rutherford.
“The majority of reports we’ve received about their anti-social behaviour centre around them causing alarm and disorder, making life miserable for those in the community, and especially for retail staff.
“The prolific pair have completely exhausted all chances they have been offered to turn their behaviour around and, instead of working with police and partners, both Simpson and Rutherford have continued to cause a nuisance and repeatedly break the law.
“Officers have worked tirelessly to secure two Criminal Behaviour Orders which will ban the duo from entering premises that have been most affected by their offending and help to keep the public and workers safe. Should Simpson and Rutherford choose to ignore the conditions of this agreement, they will face re-arrest and a potential jail term.
“We hope that this news offers reassurance to the wider community and, as a Force, we will continue to do all we can to act on concerns reported and bring effective justice against prolific offenders.”
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