A MAN who persistently breached a criminal behaviour order in Chelmsford, Colchester and Maldon and then assaulted a police officer after he was arrested has been jailed for more than three years.

Keith Wright, 48, was arrested in Maldon High Street by neighbourhood policing officers following reports that he was aggressive and drunk, Chelmsford Crown Court was told on 29 January.

A five-year criminal behaviour order, or CBO, obtained at court by Chelmsford Neighbourhood Policing Team in November 2024 forbade him from doing either of these things in public.

After his latest arrest on 15 September 2025, Wright kicked a police officer while in custody, the court heard.

The court jailed him for a total of three years and six weeks after he was convicted for nine breaches of the CBO and six incidents of being threatening or abusive in Chelmsford – once on a ward at Broomfield Hospital – Colchester, Maldon and Heybridge. 

Wright was also convicted of four shop thefts as well as assaulting a police officer and causing criminal damage. His sentence also included activations of two previous suspended prison sentences.

Sergeant Matt Dalby, of Maldon Neighbourhood Policing Team, said after the hearing that Essex Police does not tolerate assaults on its officers and staff.

He added: "Wright has an extensive history of offending and has caused a lot of distress to a lot of people through his behaviour while under the influence of drink and drugs. 

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"We hope this jail sentence provides reassurance to those people who came across Wright and were threatened by him.

"It certainly demonstrates that police and the courts take seriously breaches of criminal behaviour orders, which are imposed to try to divert people from long-term offending."

The terms of Wright's CBO had included:

• Not to use any offensive language or engage in any aggressive or intimidating behaviour in a public place.
• Not to be in possession of an open container or vessel of alcohol in a public place or to be intoxicated through drink or drugs in a public area
• Not to beg or ask anyone for money or to enter any licensed premises within the area of the Chelmsford city centre Public Spaces Protection Order