An Ilfracombe man has received a fine at court for breaches of a Community Protection Notice (CPN), following a successful prosecution by North Devon Council.

Luke Alexander of High Street, Ilfracombe, was found guilty in absence for failing to comply with a CPN served to him in December 2024 at a hearing at Barnstaple Magistrates' Court on 13 June 2025.

A CPN can be imposed on a person over the age of 16 where their conduct is unreasonable, consistent, and has a detrimental effect on the quality of life of those in the community.

Alexander's CPN requires him not to consume or be in possession of an open container of alcohol within North Devon Council's Public Spaces Protection Order (PSPO) areas or Ilfracombe's Wildersmouth, Cheyne or Harbour beaches. The CPN also prohibits antisocial behaviour such as shouting or swearing at members of the public, littering and public urination.

The court heard Alexander was seen by a street marshal to be drinking from an open can of lager in Jubilee Gardens on 27 February. He was also seen by police drinking from an open can of lager in Capstone Parade on 5 March.

Alexander was ordered to pay a £100 fine, a surcharge of £100 and £150 in costs.

Councillor David Clayton, Leader of North Devon Council, said: "Community Protection Notices are a vital tool in ensuring everyone can enjoy our public spaces without fear of antisocial behaviour. We will continue to enforce these robustly and ensure that the measures put in place to protect our community are respected."

The council's Facebook page provides regular updates from its ASB team about the work it conducts in the community on a daily basis. All activity relating to the council's work to combat ASB can be found using #NDCsaysnotoASB.