Four abusive criminals who caused misery for residents and visitors with their persistent anti-social behaviour have been banned from Chester city centre.

The three men and one woman have all been handed Criminal Behaviour Orders (CBOs) at Chester Magistrates Court over the past six weeks.

Terms of the orders variously include being prohibited from using insulting language, from begging and sleeping in shop doorways.

Cheshire police say the offenders were given numerous opportunities to change their ways, but refused.

Who are they?

Claire Gerrard



Thirty-one-year-old Claire Gerrard's breach of a dispersal notice, which was issued in relation to anti-social behaviour, landed her with a five-year CBO. Under the order, the Chester woman cannot:

  • Cause harassment, nuisance or annoyance by seeking to beg from any person in any public place in Cheshire
  • Enter Chester city centre (within the exclusion area set out by the court)
  • Use abusive, insulting, threatening or intimidating language or behaviour in any public place or towards any person in England and Wales
Alex McKerracher

Alex McKerracher, 32, of Wrexham, was also handed a five-year CBO after he was convicted of begging and public order offences at Chester Crown Court.

McKerracher, who threatened officers making the application, must not:

  • Cause harassment, nuisance or annoyance by seeking to beg from any person in any public place in Cheshire
  • Use foul, abusive, intimidating or threatening language or behaviour towards any person in any public place in Cheshire
  • Enter Chester city centre (within the exclusion area set out by the court)
Jamie Chard

Chester's Jamie Chard, 27, was convicted of a public order offence and resisting arrest following a violent incident in the city centre on October 19.

He received a three-year CBO, under which he cannot:

  • Use or threaten any violence in any public place in England and Wales
  • Enter Chester city centre (within the exclusion area set out by the court)
  • Use abusive, insulting, threatening or intimidating language or behaviour in any public place or towards any person in England and Wales
Matthew Lloyd

Twenty-nine-year-old Matthew Lloyd, from Northwich, was handed an indefinite CBO after multiple incidents involving threatening and abusive behaviour. He cannot:

  • Enter Chester city centre (within the exclusion area set out by the court)
  • Use or threaten any violence in any public place in England and Wales
  • Use abusive, insulting, threatening or intimidating language or behaviour in any public place or towards any person in England and Wales
  • Sleep, lie down or sit in doorways or recess' of shops, retail premises, residential properties without the permission of the owner

What the police say

Sergeant Amanda Shaw, of the Chester Anti-social Behaviour Unit, explained the court orders send a clear message that begging and anti-social behaviour will not be tolerated in the city.

She said: “In relation to these four individuals, the police and partner agencies have worked hard to support them but despite having multiple opportunities to change their behaviour, they all have failed to do so leaving us with no option but to apply for court orders.

“Applying for court orders is always the last resort, but the public of Chester should be allowed to go about their daily business without having to be witness to offensive behaviour from people who simply cannot behave in a reasonable manner."

Members of the public are asked not to give beggars money, but instead donate to charities which support individuals who have found themselves in difficult circumstances.

Anyone who witnesses any breaches of the orders should report it to police by calling 101.