Gloucester man punished for spending years shoplifting, street drinking and being aggressive 

Simon Parnell has been handed a court injunction following years of antisocial behaviour. Credit: Gloucestershire Police

A man from Gloucester who continued to engage in antisocial street drinking, shoplifting and acting aggressively in public has been served a court injunction. 

Simon Parnell, 37, continued to engage in antisocial behaviour despite attempts from police to engage with him over a number of years.

Parnell was served with a court injunction on 31 July following a hearing at Gloucester and Cheltenham County Court.

The case was brought against him by Solace - a team of officers from Gloucestershire Constabulary, Cheltenham Borough Council and Gloucester City Council.

The injunction forbids Parnell from:

  • Engaging in conduct which causes or is capable of causing alarm or harassment or distress to any person within the city of Gloucester

  • Using or threatening to use violence towards any person within the city of Gloucester

  • Entering the exclusion zone (as outlined in red on the map)

  • Being in possession of an open vessel and/or can of alcohol in a public place within the city of Gloucester save for within licensed premises

He cannot enter this exclusion zone Credit: Gloucestershire Police

The injunction will remain in place until 31 July 2024 and breaches can be reported by calling the Solace team on 01452 396396. 

Solace Street Aware lead officer Adam Stevens said: “Numerous attempts have been made to engage with Parnell by a number of organisations however he continues to refuse offers of assistance.

"Despite a number of his associates already being subject to similar injunctions he has continued to show total disregard for those who are legitimately using our city centre, for those around him or for the city’s No Alcohol Public Spaces Protection Order.

“We continue to work with our partners in the city to offer help and support to those that want it, whilst sending out a clear message that those who continue to cause harm and refuse offers of assistance will be held accountable for their behaviours, which have a negative impact on our city.”

Gloucester Neighbourhood Policing inspector Ash Gardner said: "This is another fantastic example of the ongoing partnership work in the city to tackle anti-social behaviour.

"The granting of this injunction will send a clear message that the behaviour demonstrated by Parnell will not be tolerated."

City Safe manager Steve Lindsay said: “Parnell has become a real problem for retailers and visitors to our city, his behaviour can be anything from shoplifting to becoming aggressive and abusive towards members of the public.

"I fully support and welcome this injunction, as we have received a high number of incidents reported by our City Safe Members.

"Parnell has been offered support and has not engaged and now his behaviour is getting out of control, so this outcome is fully welcomed by the business community and visitors to our city."