A Birmingham boy was in custody last night - just TWO days after becoming the youngest person in the city to be made subject of an anti-social behaviour order.
The 11-year-old and his 14-year-old brother, who cannot be named for legal reasons, were arrested yesterday for allegedly flouting the conditions of the interim ASBOs placed on them by Birmingham magistrates.
The orders were made on Thursday following complaints by residents that the pair were part of a gang which had carried out a reign of terror on a Weoley Castle estate over the last two years. The youngest boy was spotted wielding a chainsaw by one terrified local.
Last night a police spokesman told the Sunday Mercury: I can confirm two boys aged 11 and 14 were arrested in Weoley Castle for numerous breaches of conditions on their interim ASBO orders.
They are in custody at Bournville Lane police station.
The spokesman said the pair would remain in custody until they appeared at Birmingham Magistrates Court tomorrow charged with the breaches. He refused to confirm what the alleged breaches were.
On making the interim ASBOs, Judge Gill Allison banned the pair from:
Driving any motor vehicle;
Being a passenger in a vehicle driven by a person under the age of 17;
Acting in a way which will cause distress, harassment or alarm to others.
The pair were also banned from entering two roads and from contacting three named people.
They were warned it was a criminal offence to breach the conditions and that they would be brought back before the courts if they did.
The tearaway brothers were banned by law from causing trouble on the estate after the Judge heard of a catalogue of complaints.
Residents said they have had bricks and stones thrown at their windows, broken glass put under their car tyres and constant threats and abuse. Others claimed the 11 year-old had been seen wielding a petrol-driven chainsaw.
The interim order was due to last until July 8 when another hearing was to be held at the court to decide if a full ASBO would be made.
The court had imposed an order banning the media from naming the brothers on the grounds of their young ages.
Police had already brought a dispersal order in to stop a gang congregating around a local row of shops.
One shop worker said the gang, sometimes 10-strong, were well known troublemakers. He has had to have counselling because of the constant abuse.
Another elderly resident said: The gang just feel they are untouchable.
A third local had lived in her home for 10 years but was forced to move out because of the constant abuse from the gang.
She said: My husband just said to me that we did not have to put up with it any more.
