An abusive man has been ordered to stay out of a half a square mile area of Hove by magistrates.
Marcus Shanks has also been banned from contacting the victims of his domestic violence under the terms of an interim anti-social behaviour order (ASBO).
Shanks had been violent and abusive towards his ex-partner for the past three years, Brighton Magistrates’ Court was told.
She had lived in five properties during that time but his anti-social behaviour had led to her eviction and had “severely affected” neighbours.
He also terrorised vulnerable people in hostels where his former partner was staying.
Brighton and Hove City Council said that the court ordered Shanks not to
- behave in a way that could cause harassment, alarm or distress to people in Brighton and Hove or West Sussex
- incite or encourage others to behave in such a manner
- enter part of Hove
- threaten or abuse any staff at Sussex Central YMCA and Brighton YMCA
- contact directly or indirectly specific victims whose names are confidential
The order was granted yesterday (Tuesday 14 August) to remain in force until Tuesday 16 October.
The council said that Shanks was currently in prison for three beaches of the ASBO and currently had no fixed address.
Councillor Ben Duncan, chairman of the Brighton and Hove Community Safety Forum, said: “This is an appalling case of domestic violence carried out in hostels that were home to some of the city’s most vulnerable residents.
“We take domestic violence and anti-social behaviour very seriously and will not tolerate people who make some of the city’s most vulnerable residents’ lives a misery.
“This is a demonstration of effective multi-agency working with the police and the magistrates’ court alongside residents and the city’s Crime Reduction Partnership to tackle what was a particularly bad problem.
“As a partnership we acted quickly once we were alerted to the criminal activity.
“This sends a message out to residents that they do not have to tolerate such behaviour and we want to praise those that came forward.”
