CHATHAM – For the next two years, a familiar face will be notably absent from the streets of Chatham town centre following a string of offences that left local businesses and residents on edge.
Christopher Lehane, 49, has been served with a Criminal Behaviour Order (CBO) after a relentless wave of anti-social activity. Officers linked the Chatham resident to 13 separate incidents since November 2025, ranging from shoplifting and theft to criminal damage and public order offences.
The move comes as a relief to the local community. For months, shop owners and pedestrians frequently called upon police patrols to intervene in Lehane’s behaviour. In response, authorities compiled a case for a CBO, which is a powerful legal tool designed to curb persistent nuisance where standard arrests have failed to provide a long-term solution.
Strict Conditions and Exclusion Zones
On Thursday, May 7, Medway Magistrates’ Court granted the order, effectively drawing a “red line” around the heart of the town. The primary condition of the order bars Lehane from entering the specific area of Chatham town centre bordered by The Brook, Best Street, and Waterfront Way.
Furthermore, the court has placed strict limits on his behaviour outside of that zone. For the duration of the two-year order, he is prohibited from consuming alcohol or carrying an open bottle or can of alcohol in any public space, with the exception of licensed premises.
Legal Consequences
The court made the stakes clear: this order is a final warning. Should Lehane be spotted within the exclusion zone or found in breach of the alcohol restrictions, he faces a likely custodial sentence. Local officers hope the ban will provide the town centre with a much-needed reprieve, ensuring that Chatham remains a welcoming environment for shoppers and workers alike.
Medway’s Chief Inspector Gary Woodward said:
‘Lehane’s actions are a frequent nuisance to those who live and work in Chatham, and we are pleased the court has approved this order which will hopefully make the community safe from this man.
‘Breaching a CBO can come with serious consequences, so if Lehane returns to the town or slips up once, he could be off our streets and behind bars imminently.
‘We listened to the concerns of residents and I’m satisfied our officers worked diligently to secure this order and address this blight on Chatham society.’