Gloucester woman handed violent offender order after prison release

A woman has been handed a violent offender order (VOO) following her release from prison.

Layla Warburton, 33, from Gloucester, was released on 20 March after serving a sentence for wounding with intent to cause grievous bodily harm in 2016.

Gloucestershire Police said she had “a history of violent offending”. VOOs allow police to supervise individuals deemed to pose a significant risk to the public and can last between two to five years.

PC Lauren Weston said the order “allows us to both ensure people’s safety and help Layla Warburton successfully reintegrate back into the community”.

She added: “We are committed to taking action against violence in our communities and want to protect the public from further incidents of violence.”

Ms Warburton had been due to be released without conditions having served her full sentence in custody but a judge at Cheltenham Magistrates’ Court imposed the order after agreeing it was necessary.

The court heard the 33-year-old had a conviction for wounding with intent after assaulting a woman with a broken bottle in March 2012.

She was later convicted of a further serious assault in November 2016, when she subjected a woman in Gloucester to a sustained attack following an argument.

Under the order, Ms Warburton is subject to conditions including wearing a GPS tag for up to six months and allowing authorities to inspect her phone.

Failure to comply with the order could result in a five-year prison sentence.