A WOMAN has been banned from a town centre after abusing shop staff and attacking a police officer.

Kelly Bastock, 36, is now banned from Braintree town centre due to persistent anti-social behaviour.

Bastock had been issued a community protection notice on April 28.

It excluded her from entering the Braintree town centre but she breached the notice on May 5 and was then arrested.

Bastock, of no fixed address, was charged with failing to comply with a community protection notice but five days later, she breached it again by going into Boots in the George Yard Shopping Centre.

Reports say Bastock was abusive towards a staff member and was escorted from the shop by the centre’s security team, who contacted police.

She was arrested but later assaulted an officer while she was in custody.

At Colchester Magistrates’ Court on October 1, Bastock admitted two counts of failing to comply with a community protection notice and one count of assaulting an emergency worker.

She was made subject of a three year criminal behaviour order, which bans her from Braintree town centre except to attend pre-arranged appointments.

There are a number of other conditions, including she must not behave in a manner likely to cause harassment, alarm or distress or to use threatening or abusive words or behaviour or any form of violence towards anyone.

Bastock is also required to engage with agencies supporting mental health and substance misuse or addiction that she is referred to by professional organisations.

Inspector Jenna Mirrington-French said: “We sought a criminal behaviour order to not only protect the public of Braintree from Bastock’s continued anti-social behaviour, which was causing alarm and distress, but also to ensure she receives the help she needs.”