Ban from public toilets is ‘making my life a misery’
A Bath man with a lifetime ban from using public toilets claims he’s being treated “like an animal” by the criminal justice system because he’s an “easy target”. Nearly six years ago Ronald Webb, 75, was found guilty of observing a person doing a private act in a Keynsham toilet and served three months in prison. The long-time Twerton resident said he has used bushes to relieve himself since the conviction and ban was issued. However, while in Bath city centre on March 19, Webb had stomach problems and “badly needed to go” and he used the toilets on Avon Street. He was arrested for doing so and charged with breaching his sexual offences prevention order . A further charge of breaching the notification requirements of his order was applied. Webb, a retired labourer, said he was four days late informing the police that he had opened a new bank account, which he needed to receive his pension. But he admitted both offences at Bristol Crown Court on Tuesday (June 19) and received two 28-day prison terms, suspended for 12 months. He was also electronically tagged and given a two-month curfew, under which he must remain in his Brook Road home from 6pm until 6am daily. Webb, who maintains his innocence over the original incident, said he’s being treated unfairly and that the curfew forces him to endure stifling indoor heat. “I’m not even allowed to go out into my own garden to get fresh air in hot weather like this. It’s like an oven in my flat,” he told Bath Live . “I’ve been going in bushes [since being banned from all public toilets across the country]. I’m not beating about the bush, I’m being treated like an animal.” A solicitor from Reeds Solicitors represented Webb at his crown court hearing. Bath Live understands that Reeds advised Webb that the sex offences order which he has been subject to since August 9 2012 breaches his human rights. “It effectively precludes you from using any public toilet and I am aware that you suffer from certain medical complaints,” Reeds Solicitors told him in a letter. “In those circumstances I would strongly advise you to make an application to amend the terms of the order. If you wish to do so, please telephone this office and make a suitable appointment to see me so that I can start the necessary documentation.” Webb, who said he is illiterate, wants to get the terms of toilet ban changed but says he doesn’t have enough money to fight the order in the courts. “I’ve tried to get this altered,” he said. “And I’ve been refused every single time. “They keep saying to me that I’ve got to take it back to court, when they know full well that I can’t afford to. “All I’m interested in is letting the public know how I’m being treated over this.” He added: “Can you explain to me where one has got to [go to] use the toilet when he can’t go into a police station, he can’t go to any toilet in Great Britain? “If I do it in bushes and a police officer sees me that’s against the law, so where has one got to go? “I’m a pensioner and as far as I’m concerned I’m an easy target for them because they know I can’t do anything about it.” When Webb ran into trouble with the law earlier this year he said it was the first time he broke the public toilets ban. He said it’s “impossible” that he committed the spying offence because of the layout of the cubicles. “It’s the first time I broke it in near on seven years. I had stomach problems and I badly needed to go,” Webb said. “I came out and they arrested me for using the toilet. “They’re literally making my life hell and a misery. “And I just want it changed even if it’s to use their disabled toilet where you have a key to open up and it’s just one cubicle and there’s no other cubicle in there. “I would be quite happy with that - somewhere that I can use the toilets without going into the bushes.” He added: “It looks as if I’m being victimised here something chronic and justice is just unbelievable with what I’ve gone through. “I’ve never ever interfered with children in my life. I’ve not no intention of doing that either. All I did was stood on a toilet seat, nothing else, nothing more. “The point is, everybody knows, if you go to Keynsham and you go in the toilet, it’s entirely impossible for you to look over the wall. “It doesn’t matter how I’ve tried, when you’re on the sex register, they turn around and say, you’ve got no chance of this, you’ve got no chance of that. “And it’s about time I got someone on my side so I can get it (the order) sorted once and for all. “If you’ve got to go you’ve got to go.” What do you think of Webb’s situation? Email sam.petherick@ reachplc.com