Man banned from city centre for threatening girls

A man has been banned from parts of a city centre for threatening and distressing behaviour towards women and girls, council leaders say.

Gloucester City Council chiefs said they secured a civil injunction against Afzul Veshmia, 45, after he regularly left people fearing for their safety.

Gloucester Police has arrested Veshmia twice since the injunction was served in May.

Morag Gordon, engagement officer at the council, said: "Any acts of intimidation, verbal abuse or threats of violence will be robustly dealt with. Thanks to the courage of this man's victims providing me with evidence of his behaviours, they have enabled us to successfully apply for the injunction."

Veshmia, of Russell Street, is forbidden from entering parts of Gloucester city centre for one year, including Hillfield Gardens park on London Road and the historic monument The King's Board.

The court order states that Veshmia must not threaten or use violence towards anyone in the city, set fires or carry large weapons, such as large tree branches.

Insp James O'Neill, from Gloucester Police, said: "Veshmia has repeatedly displayed behaviour that can be intimidating in its manner and which has caused a great deal of concern among the wider public.

"This injunction gives us the power to manage his behaviour by responding to any reports of breaches."

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