A Stourport man who was found guilty of having a bladed article in a public place has been handed a three-year Criminal Behaviour Order (CBO).

Steven Richards, 43, of Lickhill Road, Stourport-on-Severn, was given the CBO at Kidderminster Magistrates Court on Monday (17 February).

The order follows an incident on 26 April 2024 when he was found in possession of an article which had a blade or was sharply pointed, namely a lock knife, in Worcester.

Police received reports of antisocial behaviour of a male who was balancing sticks on his head and walking into a road who shouted abusive language at a member of the public.

Officers carried out a search post arrest and found the small knife in Richards’ jacket pocket.

He had previously also been involved in numerous incidents where he has been verbally abusive and intimidating towards members of the public in Stourport where he lives which resulted in him being handed a Community Protection Notice (CPN), as well as antisocial behaviour when he has visited Worcester city centre and Hereford city centre.

He also made unnecessary phone calls to the police in February 2024.

Richards’ CBO supersedes his CPN and runs until 17 February 2028, and means he is prohibited from the following: -

being verbally abusive, shouting or swearing at West Mercia Police call taking staff.