A NIGHTMARE railway passenger has been banned from entering Redditch town centre in a landmark ruling.
Matthew Bayliss, of no fixed address, is the first person in the West Midlands to receive a full Criminal Behaviour Order (CBO) which also stops him from using the Cross City line from Birmingham to the borough.
The three-year ruling, which was issued by Birmingham Magistrates’ Court on March 9, follows two years of constant assaults, racial offences, begging, drunkenness and using threatening behaviour towards rail staff, commuters and police officers on the Cross City line.
The CBO also prevents the 44-year-old from consuming alcohol in a public place, behaving aggressively, as well as entering the grounds of a number of railway stations across Birmingham.
Bayliss was previously jailed for three months in December 2014 for breaching an interim CBO three times and he could be sentenced to five years if he breaks this order.
Insp Lee Gordon, leader of West Midlands Safer Travel Partnership’s policing team, said: “The behaviour of Matthew Bayliss cannot be condoned, tolerated or allowed to continue after a long, persistent period of offending.
“He has caused distress to rail staff and police officers, as well as staff from a number of other organisations, local agencies and many members of the public, who have been subjected to his anti-social and sometimes violent behaviour.
“We have worked together with a number of partners in the rail industry and in the community to bring the CBO against Bayliss.
“We hope it will prevent him from committing further offences and bringing further distress to the wider community and help him think about changing his lifestyle and behaviour.”
Darren Hanley, head of revenue protection and security for London Midland, added: “This sends a strong message that anti-social behaviour will not be tolerated on our network.
“Genuine passengers will welcome this ruling. We want everyone to feel safe and secure when travelling with London Midland.”
