A 44-year-old man has been charged with multiple offences following an incident at a religious event in Newport that prompted a swift police response on Thursday evening.
Emergency services were called at just before 19:45 to reports that a man was attempting to force entry into the Kingdom Hall on Buckbury Lane, where families had gathered for a Jehovah’s Witness memorial event marking the death of Jesus Christ.
It had been reported that the male, who was outside the building, had become aggressive, prompting those inside to lock the doors, as first reported by Island Echo.
Officers from Hampshire & Isle of Wight Constabulary responded quickly to the scene and located a man in a black Ford Transit van, which had reportedly been seen in the area throughout the day.
Police were said to be concerned about whether any children were inside the building at the time and whether the individual had approached any of them.
A 44-year-old man, now named as Vincent Maunder, of no fixed abode, was initially arrested on suspicion of trespassing with intent to commit a sexual offence, as well as breaching a Sexual Harm Prevention Order and drug driving.
It has now been confirmed that Maunder has been charged with breaching a sexual harm prevention order, assaulting a police constable, and failing to provide a specimen for analysis in connection with drug driving.
He has been remanded in custody and is due to appear before Portsmouth Magistrates’ Court today (Saturday).
Human vermin… needs eradicating
These nonces stop at nothing do they? Ship them all to Alcatraz