Social media menace BANNED from contacting women he doesn’t know on Twitter, Instagram and Facebook

A social media menace has been banned from contacting women he doesn’t known on Twitter, Instagram and Facebook.

Anthony McNulty, 30, has been convicted of a string of public order offences against women and is serving a four-month sentence for an incident at a gym in January.

He was earlier charged and found guilty of the ‘use of threatening, abusive, insulting and words and behaviour to cause harassment, alarm and distress’.

Cheshire Police requested the wide-ranging Criminal Behaviour Order (CBO) due to his offending having a ‘significant impact on his victims’.

The six-year CBO, handed to McNulty at Crewe Magistrates Court, bans him from contacting any women on social media that do not know him.

It also prohibits him from refusing to leave any Cheshire premises when asked to do so by staff or from acting in an ‘anti-social manner’.

McNulty, from Runcorn, Cheshire, is currently in prison but the CBO will begin once he is released.

He suffered ‘extensive brain damage’ in 2012 when it appeared he shot himself in the head with a shotgun.

In 2016 he was jailed for six months for grievous bodily harm when he thumped a reveller unconscious outside a pub.

Police constable Chris Roberts said: ‘CBOs are preventative orders with strict restrictions, to stop persistent offenders committing further offences.

‘They are applied for separately to prosecutions for criminal offences as a last resort.

‘In the case of Anthony McNulty, he has committed a string of public order offences against woman. His offending has had a significant impact on his victims.

‘He has persistently shown no consideration at all for the effects his unacceptable behaviour has had on others.

‘There comes a point when you have to say enough is enough and take additional action to protect members of the public.

‘No-one should be subjected to such behaviour or feel threatened or intimidated by the actions of other people.

‘Such behaviour will not be tolerated, and we will use whatever powers we have at our disposal to ensure that Halton is a pleasant place to live, work and visit.

‘I am delighted that the CBO application for McNulty has been approved by Crewe Magistrates Court.’

PC Roberts added: ‘I hope it has the desired effect and deters him from committing further offences when released from prison.

‘He has been made aware that it is a criminal offence to breach the terms of a CBO.

‘The sanctions imposed for doing so can be severe, with the maximum penalty five years in prison.

‘I am pleased to say we have seen a significant reduction of offending in Cheshire from those subject to a CBO.’

Referring to the incident in a gym for which McNulty is serving a sentence, a spokesperson for the Crown Prosecution Service told MailOnline: ‘Anthony McNulty was charged with the use of threatening, abusive, insulting and words and behaviour to cause harassment, alarm and distress. 

‘The offence was committed on 28 January 2020. He pleaded not guilty. But was found guilty on 16 October 2020 at Crewe Magistrates Court.’

Cheshire Police and Crime Commissioner David Keane added: ‘CBOs are one of many tools in a bid to improve our communities.

‘They address persistent criminal behaviour by giving those issued with CBOs strict requirements and prohibitions which they must adhere to.

‘I am pleased CBOs have been having the desired effect of reducing offending, the number of victims and the demand on police. I hope this continues.’