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A barber who taped up a bench outside her shop after being plagued by antisocial behaviour has been left stunned after she claimed she was threatened with causing criminal damage by police.
Rebecca Sutton decided to take drastic action after being blighted by drug dealers and drunks congregating outside her business in the quaint market town of Market Drayton, Shropshire.
The 37-year-old taped up the problem bench outside The Town Barbers last Tuesday with black tape as well as a hand-written sign declaring ‘Out Of Use.’
Ms Sutton said she acted following bouts of antisocial behaviour after catching addicts openly smoking drugs, drunks urinating against it and people having sex.
She claims to have repeatedly complained to the council and police about the issue – but nothing has ever been done.
Barber Rebecca Sutton, 37, with the bench she taped up following a bout of anti-social behaviour outside her barber shop
Ms Sutton said she acted after catching addicts openly smoking drugs on the bench
She said she was then left gobsmacked after ‘being warned’ by West Mercia Police that she could now face criminal action herself for causing ‘damage’ to the bench.
Ms Sutton, of Market Drayton, said: ‘I just couldn’t take any more. We’ve had the lot, people doing lines of cocaine off the bench and even people having sex on it.
‘You get drunks urinating against it in the middle of the day and this week I had somebody openly smoking a bong outside the shop.
‘I have families that come here and if you saw somebody doing drugs outside a barber shop you would walk on and go somewhere else.
‘I have been here 12 years and it is getting worse.
‘But nobody wants to do anything. I have contacted the council and the police, but it doesn’t stop.
‘I’ve asked the council to remove the bench outside my shop because that is where they all congregate.
‘But they have refused as they say it is needed by the elderly but there are more benches here.
‘And then the police have warned me that it could be classed as criminal damage. I could not believe what I was hearing.
‘I’ve been asking the police for help but they are saying it could be me who is prosecuted instead.
‘I didn’t know what else to do. I couldn’t take any more. I’m just trying to help and protect my business.’
Ms Sutton was left gobsmacked after being warned by West Mercia Police she could now face criminal action herself for causing ‘damage’ to the bench
Ms Sutton said: ‘You get drunks urinating against it in the middle of the day and this week I had somebody openly smoking a bong outside the shop’
Market Drayton Town Council said the situation of antisocial behaviour in the town was ‘ongoing’.
Town clerk Sue Thomas said: ‘This is an ongoing issue which the Town Council has raised with the local policing team on many occasions, they have agreed to increase their patrols in the area and issue PPO’s where necessary.
‘The area in question is the responsibility of Shropshire Council; they decided not to move the bench.’
Andy Wilde, assistant director for infrastructure, highways and transport at Shropshire Council, added: ‘We understand how upsetting this situation has been and will continue to work with all agencies to find a permanent solution to resolving the problem of anti-social behaviour in this area.
‘We believe by addressing the route cause, in this case the anti-social behaviour by the individuals responsible is where the focus of attention needs to be and not removing seating which is for use by everybody.’
Inspector Claire Greenway, of North Shropshire Safer Neighbourhood Team, said: ‘We understand the impact anti-social behaviour can have on our communities and we are committed to doing everything we can to tackle local concerns.
‘We are currently speaking to business owners in the town and working with partner agencies to identify those responsible for the anti-social behaviour and to further investigate any offences that have been committed.
‘I encourage the public to always report on any anti-social behaviour and other crimes via our website or by calling 101, which is essential to finding those responsible.’
MailOnline has contacted West Mercia Police for comment.