A prolific shoplifter who assaulted an emergency worker after his arrest has been barred from an entire Cardiff shopping centre and multiple stores, including Superdrug, Tesco and Sainsbury's.
Nicholas Trask, 46, of Roath, Cardiff, was handed a three-year Criminal Behaviour Order (CBO) following a series of thefts from retailers and businesses on Albany Road, Wellfield Road, City Road and in Cardiff city centre between June and September this year.
Details of the Criminal Behaviour Order
The order prohibits Trask from entering 13 premises, including Superdrug, Tesco, Sainsbury's, the Post Office and Siop Sero on Albany Road; Bentleys Coffee Lounge and Tesco on Wellfield Road; The Ernest Willows on City Road; Tesco Express stores on Clifton Street, North Road and within the Capitol Shopping Centre; and Waterstones on The Hayes. He is also banned from Cardiff's Capitol Shopping Centre.
After his arrest, Trask was further charged with assaulting an emergency worker after throwing a cup of water at a police officer while in custody at Cardiff Bay Police Station in September this year.
Conviction and sentencing
On September 30, Trask was convicted of multiple shoplifting offences and assaulting an emergency worker at Cardiff Magistrates' Court. He received a 26-week sentence suspended for 12 months.
Breaching the order is a criminal offence and could result in further arrest and prosecution.
Police statement and previous offences
South Wales Police said: "The order has been introduced to protect local businesses, staff and the wider community, while preventing the defendant from returning to locations linked to his offending. This case demonstrates our commitment to tackling shoplifting. Any breaches and incidents should be reported to police."
Trask was jailed previously and also previously threw dirty water at police and assaulted an emergency worker in 2019. While in custody at Cardiff Bay police station, 39-year-old Nicholas Trask was "making a nuisance of himself" and, when two officers and a detention officer entered his cell, Trask threw a cup full of toilet water over them.
"There was a very strong smell of urine left on the officers and they were disgusted by what had happened," prosecutor James Evans told Cardiff Crown Court in August 2019. Trask had been arrested after assaulting Kevin Smith on August 7, 2019, in an area of tents outside Cardiff Castle. He admitted three counts of assaulting an emergency worker and one count of assault.
Sentencing him at that time, Judge Jeremy Jenkins noted the incident happened while Trask was on a suspended sentence imposed the previous week for various offences including shoplifting. In relation to the assault on the officers, the judge said it was suggested there was faecal matter in the water, which would be an aggravating feature. "This caused them alarm and distress," he said. "Luckily no-one was injured, including Smith or the officers."
Trask, who has 67 previous convictions for more than 130 offences, was sentenced to 63 days in prison in August 2019.
