A Coleford man was handed an anti-social behaviour injunction after he made threats to people walking in the Lydbrook area of the Forest of Dean, including that he would shoot their dogs.

A civil injunction order was imposed on Joseph Butcher (45) of Coleford, at Gloucester County Court last week.

The injunction was granted after evidence was gathered that Butcher was making threats and being intimidating towards members of the public who were walking their dogs.

A spokesperson for Gloucestershire Police commented: “Butcher could be arrested if he uses or threatens to use violence against any person, shouts, swears, uses abusive language or makes rude or insulting gestures to any person within Lydbrook.”

Butcher is also forbidden from engaging in conduct which causes or is capable of causing nuisance or annoyance to any person within Lydbrook.

Police in the Forest of Dean applied for the injunction and it was granted on Monday, June 26th.

The order will remain in place for a year and any breach could result in a prison sentence.

Forest of Dean PC Leanne Sterry said: “A number of incidents were reported to police by dog walkers over a long period of time and I am aware that the behaviour of Butcher has had an effect on many people.

“Behaviour of this type is unacceptable and anti-social.”

She added: “I hope that this order being in place will give the public the confidence to walk in the area and to report any incidents to police.”

Anyone who believes they have seen Butcher breaching the injunction should call police on 101.