By Isle of Wight Observer
A man who attempted to force his way into a religious event in Newport last week has been charged with multiple offences and remains in police custody.
The disturbance occurred on Thursday, April 2, at the Kingdom Hall of Jehovah’s Witnesses on Buckbury Lane, during the annual Memorial of Jesus’ Death, attended by congregation members and guests. Shortly before 7.45pm, an aggressive individual began attempting to gain entry to the place of worship, triggering members to secure the doors and gates.
The individual, identified as Vincent Maunder, was already under strict police monitoring and had no previous ties to the Island. Hampshire & IW Constabulary arrived on the scene within minutes. Officers located Maunder, 44, outside in a black Ford Transit van, which is understood to have been seen outside the hall throughout the day. Following a struggle during the arrest, Maunder was taken into custody and has since been processed as having no fixed abode.
In a statement police confirmed that while Maunder was initially arrested on suspicion of trespassing with intent to commit a sexual offence, he has been formally charged with breaching a Sexual Harm Prevention Order (SHPO), assaulting a police constable and failing to provide a specimen for analysis in relation to a drug-driving investigation.
Maunder appeared before Portsmouth Magistrates’ Court on Saturday, where he was remanded in custody pending further legal proceedings.
Investigations into Maunder’s background reveal that his roots are in Halifax, West Yorkshire. Public records show that in 2018, Maunder was living at an address on Station Lane, Greetland.
During his time in Yorkshire, he was known to authorities, receiving a conviction in January 2018 for intending to cause harassment, alarm, or distress through threatening and abusive behaviour.
Maunder was already on the Sex Offenders Register. The Sexual Harm Prevention Order (SHPO) he is accused of breaching is for individuals deemed to pose a significant risk of sexual harm to the public.
These orders often carry strict conditions, such as “exclusion zones” near places where children or vulnerable groups gather, and mandatory reporting of any vehicles used. It appears Maunder had been using his black Ford Transit to maintain a “no fixed abode” lifestyle, moving from West Yorkshire to the south coast, potentially avoiding the monitoring intended to keep the public safe. For now, he remains behind bars, awaiting a hearing at the Crown Court.
Residents who may have seen the black Ford Transit in the Newport or Cowes area in the days leading up to April 2 are encouraged to contact police via 101.
