A 70-YEAR-OLD man from Newport has been issued with a five-year Criminal Behaviour Order (CBO) and jailed for eight weeks for wasting police time.

Gerald Haines, of Rogerstone, Newport, was given the CBO for false claims he made that stones and eggs were being thrown into his garden by neighbours at his address in Rogerstone.

Haines, who appeared in court on December 22, He was also made subject to a restraining order.

Several months’ work by Gwent officers found Haines’ claims to be malicious and a trial led to his successful conviction.

Haines had already received an ASBO, which expired in 2014, for causing harassment and distress to at least 10 separate victims and/or their families over a period of six years.

During this time, he harassed and caused significant distress to these people, some of whom moved from their homes for respite, or sought medical help due to the stress.

The CBO states that Haines cannot:

1. Engage in conduct which causes or is likely to cause harassment, alarm or distress to any resident of Court Gardens, Rogerstone, or incite or encourage any other person to do so.

2. Throw any item or liquid onto any property belonging to any resident at Court Gardens, Rogerstone.

3. Make calls to the emergency services unless for genuine reasons.

If the CBO is breached in any way, then a custodial sentence of up to five years can be imposed by the Court.

PC Paula Spence, Crime and Disorder Reduction Officer for Newport, said: “This CBO is a significant result for this offence. The Magistrates were appalled by Haines’ behaviour, and the CBO is reflective of this.”

The CBO is in place until midnight, December 21, 2019. If any member of the public witnesses a breach of this CBO, then please report this to Gwent Police by calling 101.