A MAN who threatened to shoot a dog owned by riverside walkers has been issued with a year-long anti-social behaviour order.

Gloucester County Court heard that Coleford man Joseph Butcher made intimidating threats to members of the public who were walking their dogs beside the River Wye in Lydbrook.

A civil injunction order was imposed on the 45-year-old, who could now be arrested and jailed if he uses or threatens to use violence, shouts, swears, uses abusive language or makes rude or insulting gestures to any person in the Lydbrook area.

He is also forbidden from engaging in conduct which causes or is capable of causing nuisance or annoyance to any person in the area.

Police in the Forest of Dean applied for the injunction against Butcher, and it was granted on Monday, June 26.

PC Leanne Sterry said: “A number of incidents were reported to police by dog walkers over a long period of time and I am aware that the behaviour of Butcher has had an effect on many people.

“Behaviour of this type is unacceptable and anti-social. I hope that this order being in place will give the public the confidence to walk in the area and to report any incidents to police.”