Behind bars – 'the scourge of Whiteway'

A serial troublemaker from Bath, dubbed the "scourge" of his community, has been sent to prison.

Christopher Marks, 19, of Haycombe Drive, appeared at Bath Magistrates' Court last week and was jailed for six weeks after pleading guilty to criminal damage and breaching a suspended prison sentence.

Officers say his imprisonment should reassure the people of Whiteway that police will deal with the criminals responsible for thefts, robberies, burglaries and anti-social behaviour in their area.

Det Chief Insp Nick Papuca, from Bath CID, said: "Christopher Marks is a petty serial offender who has a damaging effect on the lives of many. He is a scourge to the community in which he lives and it's clear that they have had enough.

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"He is a young man who has lived a life of crime with a very long history of convictions – a young man who seems to have no understanding of law and order and social responsibility. He has no respect for those who try to help him or for those in his community."

Marks has been in trouble with police since the age of 12 and during that time has carried out a whole range of offences, including theft, shoplifting, attempted robbery and anti-social behaviour, leaving him with a string of convictions.

Since 2010, he has been targeted by the police's Impact team in an initiative which brings together police, probation, prison officers and drugs workers.

It is designed to identify the people who carry out most of the robberies, burglaries and thefts in an area and try to break their cycle of crime. He has also been managed by the youth offending team.

Inspector Steve Mildren, of Bath police, said that despite all this help, Marks had been determined to continue a life of crime.

He said: "Marks has continued offending despite all this professional work to help him. We are now telling him, and the people of Whiteway whose lives have been made a misery by his actions, that we will deal with him robustly and quickly if he offends again."

He added: "Our message is that people should be confident that, if he or any other prolific offender commits a crime in their community, they can contact us and we will arrest him and bring him to justice. We will seek to protect and support those who have provided the information."

Anyone with information about crime in their community to contact them on 101, in confidence by calling Crimestoppers on 0800 555111 or online at http://www.avon andsomerset.police.uk/ contact/crime_reporting/.