Store ban for drug addict thief

2:29pm Thursday 14th April 2005

An Edmonton drug addict who stole to feed his habit has been banned from shops in Enfield for seven years.

Darren Gudgeon, 34, of Dartford Avenue, was sentenced to three years in jail on Thursday for assaulting his girlfriend and smashing up her family's car.

But he was also hit with an Anti-Social Behaviour Order (ASBO) banning him from shops in Enfield Town and Cheshunt. The ASBO also bars him from entering any shop in England and Wales with his girlfriend.

Gudgeon was originally referred to the new Drugs Intervention Programme (DIP) in Edmonton for treatment to cure his addiction. But just five weeks into the course, he turned back to drugs and crime and was arrested.

He was sentenced at St Alban's Crown Court on Thursday to three years in jail for actual bodily harm, three months for breaking his drugs treatment agreement, and three months for criminal damage, to run concurrently.

Borough commander Simon O'Brien said: "This is an excellent result confirming our determination to deal with drugs crime and should send a stern warning that the Drugs Intervention Programme is not a soft option. "

Enfield Council's chief executive Rob Leak said: "The combination of a prison sentence with an ASBO is an innovative solution to the problems this young man is causing. Rehabilitation from a drug problem has to be an active process."