A prolific offender who has been arrested 167 times, including spitting on shop staff, has been banned from setting foot in parts of the North East in a bid to curb his spiralling anti-social behaviour.

On August 16, it was reported that Liam Ellison had entered a store in the Bridges Shopping Centre and attempted to shoplift.

He went on to spit on one staff member, and headbutted another, who had attempted to intervene as he left the store, while making threats to harm them.

Officers attended where they arrested and later charged Ellison.

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The 33-year-old, of no fixed abode, first appeared before magistrates in South Tyneside on August 18 where he pleaded guilty to common assault and theft.

He was remanded into custody and later jailed for 16-weeks at the same court on October 11.

Ellison, who has been arrested 167 times and has 50 convictions for offences including theft and public order, was also handed a three-year Criminal Behaviour Order to curb his prolific offending and faces arrest if steps foot in any retail premises in Sunderland city centre as well as Apple Green Harbour View service station in Roker.

He is also prevented from having open alcohol in his possession and must attend rehabilitation as part of the agreement, which came into effect on Tuesday, October 11 and is set to expire in three years’ time.

A multi-agency response to Ellison’s escalating behaviour has been ongoing as part of Operation Flintstone, with police working alongside key partners including Sunderland City Council and Sunderland Business Improvement District (BID) to gather intelligence and put a stop to the criminality of prolific offenders.

Inspector Don Wade, of Northumbria Police, said “We hope those who live, work in and visit Sunderland will join us in welcoming the news that Ellison can no longer enter parts of the area.

“The majority of reports we’ve received about his anti-social behaviour centre around him causing alarm and disorder, making life difficult for the public and business owners alike.

“Ellison has exasperated all chances he was given to turn his behaviour around and, instead of working with police and our partners, he has continued to cause a nuisance and repeatedly break the law.

“This order will ban him from entering the areas most affected by his offending and help to keep the public and workers safe. Should Ellison choose to ignore the conditions of his order, he will face re-arrest and a potential jail term.

“We hope that this offers reassurance to the wider community and, as a Force, we will continue to do all we can to act on concerns reported and bring effective justice against prolific offenders.”

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