A thief has been banned from entering any York church after repeatedly stealing from charity collection boxes.

Paul James Harrison risks being arrested and jailed if he goes into any religious building or shrine within the City of York Council area over the next two years.

He was given the ban under an antisocial behaviour order by York magistrates after being convicted of stealing from two local churches on December 17 – only three days before a York parish priest advised needy people to shoplift in some circumstances.

The court was told Harrison, 32, of no fixed address, had been stealing from local church charity boxes for a number of years, repeatedly targeting York Minster, St Wilfrid’s Roman Catholic Church, in Duncombe Place, York, and The Shrine Of St Margaret Clitherow, in Shambles, York.

He had a “very specific method” of removing the money and as a result of the thefts, St Wilfrid’s had started closing early to the detriment of visitors and worshippers.

He had been offered help through the church and local agencies, but failed to change his ways, and was arrested, charged and imprisoned for three previous similar offences over a six-month period. His last theft happened two days after his release from prison.

PC Jon Hodgeon, a Safer Neighbourhood team officer, said the ASBO was a “fantastic” example of how strong sanctions could be placed on offenders through partnership working.

He said: “Police officers have conducted a number of thorough investigations to convict him of previous offences.”

He said the churches concerned had been consulted and given their support before the ASBO application was made.

The thefts from collection boxes, which involved notes rather than coins, fed a drug habit.

Amy Fenwick, antisocial behaviour co-ordinator for Safer York Partnership, said such ASBOs were designed to curb behaviour detrimental to others. She said: “Everyone has the right to visit and worship at churches without the fear of having their contributions to church being stolen.

“Harrison was warned and offered help, but he chose to continue stealing, as a result he has had his right to visit places of worship removed.”

The ABSO also bans Harrison from acting in a manner likely to cause harassment, alarm or distress to others.


Clerics back ASBO order

CHURCH leaders in York backed Paul Harrison’s ASBO.

The Dean of York, the Very Reverend Keith Jones, said churches were for everyone and places of safety and welcome, and so it “went against the grain” to tell somebody they should not enter one because of their bad behaviour.

He said this should only happen when somebody had stubbornly refused all opportunities to mend their ways.

“But stealing from churches is as wrong as all other stealing,” he said. “I hope and pray Mr Harrison will be helped to put his life right and if he needs help that he gets it. Then the judgement can be reconsidered.”

Father Tim Jones, the York vicar who hit the headlines before Christmas after advocating shoplifting as the best option for some vulnerable people, said the ASBO sounded “reasonable and sensible.”

He said: “It is important that we don’t judge Paul Harrison in the way that only God may judge. The Christian Church is not defined by its buildings and so will still be able to offer Paul any pastoral care that he may require.”

Eleanor Course, spokeswoman for the York Diocese, said a church should always be able to welcome people through its doors, but when that welcome was persistently abused, something had to be done. “Harrison was stealing money given by people to the church and to charities, and we have a responsibility toward those people, to honour and safeguard their gifts. I hope Paul Harrison will accept the help being offered to him and, at the end of his two-year order, we will be able to safely welcome him into our church buildings.”