Gloucester woman handed Violent Offender Order following release from prison

A woman with a history of violent offending has been handed a Violent Offender Order (VOO) following her release from prison.

Layla Warburton, aged 33 and from Gloucester, was serving a sentence for wounding with intent to cause grievous bodily harm in 2016 before her release from prison on 20 March 2025.

A Judge at Cheltenham Magistrates’ Court imposed the order after being satisfied that Warburton was a qualifying offender and agreed that an order was necessary to manage the risk of violence now that she has been released.

VOOs allow police to supervise violent individuals who pose a significant risk to the public.

The court heard that Warburton’s qualifying offence related to a conviction for wounding with intent after she assaulted 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.

Warburton was due to be released without conditions, having served her full sentence in custody.

Under the order, Warburton is subject to conditions including wearing a GPS tag for up to six months. Other conditions include not contacting individuals identified by the court, regularly engaging with relevant agencies, and allowing the authorities to inspect her phone when requested.

Failure to comply with the conditions is a criminal offence, with a maximum sentence of five years in prison.

Police Constable Lauren Weston, from the Integrated Offender Management Team, said: “We are committed to taking action against violence in our communities and want to protect the public from further incidents of violence.

“This Violent Offender Order allows us to both ensure people’s safety and help Layla Warburton successfully reintegrate back into the community.”