Judge imposes custodial term after repeated offences in Newbury
A Newbury man with an extensive criminal record has been sentenced to immediate custody and placed under a two-year Criminal Behaviour Order (CBO) after a series of incidents in the town centre and parks.
The defendant, identified in court reports as Andrew Lovelock, 45, was handed a total of 23 weeks' imprisonment for two counts of causing women harassment, alarm or distress by using threatening, abusive or insulting words or behaviour because of their sex, the offences having taken place in Northcroft Park on 9 July.
That jail term follows earlier breaches of a suspended sentence. He had previously been given a six-week sentence, suspended for 12 months, but continued to offend while subject to that order, the court heard.
“Are you wanting to have sex with a stranger?”
The case has drawn particular concern because of previous incidents in Newbury. Local reporting and court material record that Lovelock, who had been living in a tent in the town, propositioned schoolchildren near a central park, asking whether they wanted “to have sex with a stranger”.
Other incidents included exposing himself to a woman walking her dog in Victoria Park while shouting to draw attention, and making inappropriate sexual comments to two women in their 20s in Northcroft Park — the offences for which he was ultimately imprisoned.
Restrictions designed to protect women and children in public spaces
Alongside the custodial sentence, the court imposed a two-year CBO containing a range of prohibitions aimed at reducing the risk he poses in public. The order is intended to restrict behaviour the court concluded had caused alarm and distress to women and to deter further offending.
- Do not approach any woman or girl unless she is known to him or contact is unavoidable and incidental.
- No open containers of alcohol or drinking alcohol in public places, except inside licensed premises.
- No public exposure of his genitalia, except when using a public toilet.
- No use of illicit drugs in public or attending public places while under the influence.
The prosecution previously sought a Sexual Harm Prevention Order (SHPO) but the courts initially refused that application after being told Lovelock had apparently reformed. However, following fresh offending, the CBO was imposed to provide immediate protective measures for the public.
| Previous outcome | Latest sentence | Order imposed |
|---|---|---|
| 6 weeks' imprisonment (suspended for 12 months) | 23 weeks' imprisonment (immediate) | Two-year Criminal Behaviour Order |
Impact on the local community
The episodes have caused alarm among residents who use Newbury’s parks and town centre. The details reported to police and presented at court — including approaches to children and public sexual behaviour — underline ongoing tensions involving homelessness, substance misuse and public safety that local services and policing contend with.
The sentence and the CBO are intended to provide concrete protections for Newbury’s public spaces while Lovelock serves his term. The restrictions will remain enforceable for two years after his release, and breach of the CBO could lead to further criminal sanctions.
Local agencies and police forces often caution that enforcement forms only one part of managing such cases, pointing to the need for joined-up support for vulnerable people and clear safeguarding for those at risk in public places. For now, the court has prioritised immediate protection for women and children who were directly affected by the behaviour described in this case.
