Guardian News
Sandbach man gets ASBO for terrorising neighbours
3:39pm Friday 17th February 2012
A SANDBACH man who terrorised his community has been slapped with an ASBO after his victims decided to fight back.
Matthew Foran, 21, of Coleridge Close, flouted his pubwatch ban and was often abusive and aggressive to anyone who got in his way.
Foran caused ongoing problems for pubs in Sandbach and Middlewich, smashing windows, threatening staff and breaking property.
Customers were also disturbed by his behaviour.
Police say Foran believed he was “untouchable” and made his neighbours lives a misery with threats, abusive behaviour and criminal damage.
In some cases witnesses were too scared to come forward to help make successful convictions against him.
However, police managed to gather evidence against him and on Monday, appearing at South Cheshire Magistrates Court, he was handed an ASBO.
Ins Mark Gammage, of the Congleton Neighbourhood Policing Team, said: “Foran mistakenly believed he could cause misery to residents and businesses in Sandbach without consequence.
“In the last six months my officers have been called out to deal with his aggressive and intimidating behaviour 24 times.
“He’s smashed windows, threatened people, and subjected numerous people to violence and abuse.
“I’d like to thank those people who have taken a stand against his yobbish behaviours and supported us in obtaining this ASBO – it’s when communities stand up and say “enough is enough” that we can make a real difference.
“If he does step out of line he is likely to find himself in prison.”
The order bans Foran from licenced premises in Sandbach and Middlewich. He is also banned for entering certain areas of both town centres after 8pm as well as behaving in a foul, abusive or threatening manner.
In his own community, in Coleridge Close, Foran is prohibited from causing any noise nuisance, including playing loud music, shouting and singing.
Anyone who sees Foran breaching his ASBO conditions should contact police on 101 or Crimestoppers anonymously on 0800 555 111.
