Red light for nuisance duo

Shane Freeman

Residents of the Birch View estate took a stand against anti social behaviour and helped Rochdale Boroughwide Housing (RBH) and Greater Manchester Police (GMP) secure an ASBO against two youths who caused harassment, alarm and distress across the estate.

Twenty year old Alex “Tyson” Williams, a former resident of Green Meadow, and 14 year old Shane Freeman were identified as the ring leaders of a group involved in widespread anti social behaviour and criminal activity across the Birch View estate as well as more widely in the Littleborough area.

The group made life a misery for residents by engaging in acts of criminal damage, with threatening and abusive behaviour and by causing disturbances due to unacceptable noise and rowdiness over a prolonged period. The evidence gathered against Williams, Freeman and their associates highlighted how the group targeted families and individuals leading to residents becoming increasingly exasperated with their actions.

Andrew Gibson, Enforcement Team Manager at RBH said: “The gang’s behaviour had a hugely detrimental effect on the community generally but the way in which individuals, including vulnerable residents, were targeted meant that people were afraid to come forward, fearful of reprisals being made against them if they attempted to take a stand against the perpetrators”.

“Ironically it was the group’s unrelenting poor behaviour which resulted in residents gaining the courage to come forward and speak out against them. It has only been with the support of the residents that ourselves and the Police have been able to achieve these positive outcomes for the community and our thanks go out to all those who came forward to assist us”.

Rochdale Magistrates Court granted a three year order against both Williams and Freeman on 10 February and 3 March respectively. Under the terms of the order Williams and Freeman are prevented from entering the Birch View estate. For Freeman this is with the exception of a designated route down Green Meadow to allow him access to his mother’s home on Homestead Gardens and youth facilities at Wardle High School.

The two ASBOs represent the culmination of a great deal of community and joint agency working which began over two years ago. This also resulted in a two year order being granted in September 2009 following the successful application for an ASBO being made against 15 year old Jake Livesey, an associate of the two youths. It is hoped that the orders will help protect the community from suffering further nuisance at the hands of individuals’ intent on acing in nothing other than their own self interests.