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A prolific offender who persistently targeted Tyneside taxi drivers has been jailed and banned from stepping foot inside several communities – following a multi-agency investigation involving police and partners.
Tony Hall repeatedly carried out attacks on taxis and other vehicles in the Heaton, Jesmond, Fenham and West End areas of Newcastle, regularly smashing windows and stealing from the cars, often leaving drivers and their employers facing repair bills.
To tackle the 36-year-old’s offending, Northumbria Police officers worked in partnership with Newcastle City Council’s licensing department, holding meetings with the city’s taxi drivers, while also issuing them with crime prevention advice.
Officers also linked in with the Probation Service and a housing charity in an attempt to reduce his offending.
Following a thorough investigation, officers applied for a Criminal Behaviour Order (CBO) against Hall.
At a hearing at North Tyneside Magistrates’ Court on Thursday, March 20, Hall was jailed for 32 weeks after admitting charges of theft, fraud, and possession of crack cocaine while the CBO was also granted, meaning Hall is prevented from entering Heaton and Jesmond for the next two years on his release from prison.
Hall also isn’t allowed to be in public with his face covered and is prohibited from touching any vehicle he doesn’t have permission to. He is banned from carrying wood, stones and sticks in public place to stop him smashing windows.
Should Hall – of Northcote Street, Newcastle – choose to flout the terms of his order he risks being further arrested and given another custodial sentence.
Inspector Anita Morgan, of Northumbria Police’s Newcastle Area Command, said: “We are very pleased to have secured this order against Tony Hall, who has persistently offended in the city.
“He has caused misery for a number of victims which is why we have carried out a wide-ranging investigation into his criminality.
“To put it bluntly, he has completely exhausted all chances he has been offered to turn this behaviour around. Instead of taking the opportunities presented to him to work with ourselves and partners, Hall has continued to cause a nuisance and repeatedly break the law – at the expense of residents and businesses.
“No-one deserves to have to put up with this type of behaviour while going about their day-to-day lives and our hope is that now these measures have been put in place we can manage Hall’s offending more effectively.
“If you do see Hall somewhere he shouldn’t be, then please get in touch.”
Insp Morgan added: “I’d like to thank our partners, victims and members of the public for their assistance with our investigation, which has undoubtedly helped us to achieve this positive outcome.
“Our officers have worked tirelessly on this case and it’s testament to those efforts that we have now have an order in place upon someone who has been a menace to our community.
“I’d also take this opportunity to remind members of the public to always leave their vehicles and addresses securely locked and remove any valuables whatsoever from inside. Often, opportunist thieves will try handles but on finding that they are not open move on to another area.
“If you have been a victim of crime or have information about suspicious activity, please let us know so that we can build on our intelligence picture and take the appropriate action.”
To report crime or suspicious behaviour, send Northumbria Police a direct message on social media, or use the live chat and report forms which are on the Force website.
For those unable to contact police via those ways, call 101.
In an emergency, or if a crime is taking place, always ring 999.
