South Gloucestershire Council

Published: 14/01/2015

Three men have been convicted of criminal damage offences which were caught on camera in the Kingswood area.

Joshua Skuse, 19, of High Street, Kingswood, Ethan Stroud, 21, of Barter Close, Kingswood and Curtis Osborne, 18, of Holly Hill Road, Kingswood appeared before North Avon Magistrates Court on Monday 12 January. They all pleaded guilty to causing criminal damage after vandalising the council’s CCTV camera in Regent Street, Kingswood, on October 31 last year. The incident happened following a night out in Kingswood town centre.

Last year’s attack on the equipment was captured by a nearby camera and the images recorded were used by South Gloucestershire Council during court proceedings to help secure these successful convictions.

Cllr Claire Young, Chair of Communities Committee, said: “The council invested £300,000 on CCTV cameras at key locations across South Gloucestershire in 2009 to enhance community safety and drive down the low levels of crime and anti-social behaviour in the district even further.

“We work closely with the police to respond quickly and appropriately to crime and anti-social behaviour and the cameras have proved their worth after leading to a significant number of convictions over the years.”

Skuse and Stroud were both given Community Orders with a curfew to be at home from the hours of 7pm to 7am until Monday 23 February. They were each given 80 hours unpaid community service, fined a £60 victim surcharge and ordered to pay £85 court costs.

Osborne was given a Community Order with a curfew to be at home from the hours of 7pm to 7am until Sunday 8 February. He also received 60 hours unpaid community service, a £60 victim surcharge fine and ordered to pay £85 court costs.

The damaged cameras were replaced within 24 hours and all three men were ordered to pay compensation to South Gloucestershire Council totalling £1,402.68 each to cover the costs of replacing the units.