Man Charged Following Incident At Newport Religious Gathering

A 44-year-old man has been charged with a number of offences after an incident at a religious event in Newport on Thursday evening (April 2).

Emergency services were called shortly before 7.45pm following reports that a man was trying to force his way into the Kingdom Hall on Buckbury Lane, where families had gathered for a Jehovah’s Witness memorial.

Those inside secured the building after the man, who was outside, was reported to have become aggressive.

Officers from Hampshire & Isle of Wight Constabulary attended quickly and located a suspect in a black Ford Transit van, which had reportedly been seen in the area earlier in the day.

CLICK HERE TO READ THE ORIGINAL ARTICLE

There were concerns from police about whether children were inside the building at the time, and if the man had approached any of them.

The suspect has been named as Vincent Maunder, of no fixed address.

He was initially arrested on suspicion of trespassing with intent to commit a sexual offence, breaching a Sexual Harm Prevention Order, and drug driving.

Police have now confirmed that Maunder has been charged with breaching a Sexual Harm Prevention Order, assaulting a police constable, and failing to provide a specimen for analysis in relation to drug driving.

He has been remanded in custody and is due to appear before Portsmouth Magistrates’ Court today (Saturday).