Wokingham

Wokingham Borough Council and the police have secured an Anti Social Behaviour Order (ASBO) against Luke White, aged 25 of Old Wokingham Road, Wokingham, banning him from every Pubwatch pub or bar in the Wokingham borough and from harassing or intimidating any members of staff at any of the venues.

White has been on the Wokingham Pubwatch’s banned list since January 2005 after he was asked to leave Chameleon nightclub and dragged a Christmas tree from the club and kicked a door panel, causing criminal damage. Since then he has continually attempted to get into pubs and other venues and has often become violent and aggressive when bar staff have tried to refuse entry.

The ASBO will help Wokingham Pubwatch and the police enforce White’s ban as he will be liable for arrest if he breaches it and could face up to five years in prison.

Wokingham Borough Council community safety operations manager Jenny Bennett, who worked with the police to secure the ASBO, said: “White has regularly been intimidating and threatening pub and bar staff and customers, leaving some extremely fearful for their safety. He knows he is banned from these venues but the banning letter has failed to stop him visiting pubs, which is why we and the police are backing Pubwatch’s stance with this ASBO.

“We work closely with the police and licensed venues to ensure staff and customers are safe and this ASBO sends out a strong message that people who cause trouble in any of the borough’s pubs will be banned from all of them and that ban will be enforced.”

Wokingham Inspector Nigel Scarratt said: “This result again shows the close working relationship the police, council partners and Pubwatch has in making Wokingham a safer place for people to work in and for the community to attend licensed premises. This ASBO sends out a strong message that people who cause trouble in the Wokingham area will be banned from all of them and that ban will be enforced and if breached they will be arrested.”

Wokingham Borough Council