Man who refused to wear face mask banned from Pontardawe shops

South Wales Police have imposed a Criminal Behaviour Order (CBO) on a man who repeatedly committed anti-social behaviour in Pontardawe.

Adam Wilson, aged 29, is forbidden by the court order from entering any part of Tesco in Pontardawe, including the petrol station and car park.

He also must not cause a nuisance – or act in an intimidating, annoying, threatening manner, likely to cause harassment, alarm or distress to any person in the County Borough of Neath Port Talbot.

The order, which was granted on Tuesday 6 July 2021, is in place for five years and any breach would see Mr Wilson further sentenced by the court.

PC Mark Davies, ASB Co-Ordinator at Neath Police Station, said: “Adam Wilson came to our attention back in September 2020 when he was attending a number of retail outlets in the Pontardawe area without wearing a mask, and not socially distancing without reasonable excuse, which was breaching Covid regulations.

“There are 34 separate police incidents of either him breaching Covid regulations or involved in theft related offences, the majority of which were in Tesco in Pontardawe.

“We understand the impact that anti-social behaviour such as this can have on residents, businesses and visitors to Neath and we are committed to tackling the issue to ensure the town is a safe and pleasant place for all.

“We made every effort to help Adam Wilson modify has behaviour but he took no head to the opportunities offered, so we took this step as a last resort to protect those going into Neath, and hope the court order will lead Mr Wilson to improve his behaviour.

“I hope this court order stands as a warning to others that we will not tolerate this type of behaviour.”

South Wales Police have asked that anyone who witnesses Mr Wilson breaching the order should report them online, via email or by calling 101 quoting reference number 2100016117.

(Lead image: South Wales Police)