A WOMAN who flouted an order which banned her from entering St Helens town centre has been jailed.

Bernadette Eccleston, 46, was seen drinking alcohol on Victoria Square on Monday after she had been issued with a Criminal Behaviour Order (CBO) which prohibited her from entering the town centre.

The two-year CBO was issued on October 1 at Sefton Magistrates' Court to Eccleston, banning her from entering a designated area in St Helens town centre.

The CBO is valid until Friday, September 30, 2022 and upon a breach of the order, Eccleston would be committing a criminal offence and could face prison.

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The order prevented Eccleston from entering the area on the map (below) and prohibits all of the following:

  • Must not, in the county of Merseyside, engage in conduct causing or likely to cause harassment, alarm or distress to any person, or incite others to engage in such conduct. For the purposes of this order any other person also included police officers and police community support officers whether in uniform or non-uniform attire.
  • Must not, in the county of Merseyside, be drunk in a public place or have any open bottle, can or container that is holding alcohol (including wines, spirits, beers and ciders) and can be immediately consumed within the county of Merseyside.
  • Must not, in the county of Merseyside, enter any licensed premises, selling alcohol to be consumed on the premises. For the avoidance of doubt, any licensed premises shall include, but is not limited to, public houses, social clubs, members clubs and nightclubs.
  • Must not enter the area outlined on the attached map defined by Merseyside Police as D111 beat. Bounded by and including Duke Street, Corporation Street, Victoria Square, Corporation Street, Parr Street, Linkway East, Linkway West, Kirkland Street and Boundary Road.

St Helens Star:

Police arrested and charged Eccleston on Monday, October 12 after she was seen drinking alcohol in the town centre at Victoria Square, within the area she had been banned from entering.

She appeared at Liverpool, Knowsley and St Helens Magistrates' Court on Tuesday and was jailed for 16 weeks, police have confirmed.

A spokesman said: "Officers arrested 46-year-old Bernadette Eccleston, of no fixed address, after she was sighted on Victoria Square, St Helens drinking alcohol.

"Eccleston was charged with Breach of a CBO and appeared at Liverpool Magistrates' Court today, Tuesday, October 13.

"Eccleston was subsequently remanded in custody for 16 weeks as the offence was committed during the operational period of a suspended sentence."