A thief who preyed on the gay community in Soho for more than a decade has been banned from every public toilet in central London.
Charles Omishore, 32, pick-pocketed men while engaging in sexual activity in bars, public toilets and the rose garden in Hyde Park.
Westminster Magistrates’ Court granted an ASBO banning him from the West End, a central part of Camden and any purpose-built public toilet in the whole of Westminster or Camden for the next five years.
Westminster Council’s cabinet member for community protection, Cllr Nickie Aiken, said:
“We suspect Omishore has been getting away with this for so long because his victims have been reluctant to come forward and report attacks and thefts. A crime is a crime, and victims should feel they are able to report it, whatever the circumstances.
“Our landmark ASBO finally rids central London of this predatory offender, and we will continue to take a zero-tolerance approach to theft, drug use and intimidating behaviour in the West End.”
Westminster City Council’s crime reduction team and the Soho Safer Neighbourhood Team are now circulating public awareness posters around the West End with photos and information about Omishore, warning people to call the police immediately if they spot him in the exclusion zone.
Chief Inspector Kevin Hobson, responsible for policing and business in the West End, said:
“We are grateful to the people and business of Soho who have helped secure the criminal convictions and ASBO that bans this evil criminal from our community.
“The impact on victims from such crimes is immeasurable and to those who have come forward to help the investigations in the past we again offer our sincere thanks and support.”