18-year-old given ASBO

A teenager who subjected residents of Syke and Shawclough to racist, insulting and offensive language over a three-year period has been slapped with an anti social behaviour order (ASBO).

Matthew Bradley, 18, of no fixed address, was given the ASBO at Bury and Rochdale Magistrates’ Court following complaints from residents and workers about his behaviour, which also included theft, harassment and making threats.

Under the terms of the ASBO, which will run until 8 February 2015, Bradley is prohibited from entering the Shawclough Estate and from entering Whitworth Road from Bentley Street to Crowshaw Drive except to visit Healey Surgery when he has an appointment.

He is not allowed anywhere on the Syke Estate, apart from the top end of Gale Street to visit relatives. He is also banned from drinking alcohol and lighting fires in public and throwing objects when he is not playing sport. He will also be breaching his ASBO if he fails to leave premises like shops and restaurants when he is asked to do so by a member of staff.

Rochdale Boroughwide Housing’s (RBH) Enforcement Officer, Roy Thornsby, said: “Matthew Bradley has caused severe distress to a number of residents and businesses over a long period of time. Not only that, he has also affected local businesses by harassing their customers.

“I commend the community for having the courage to speak out and if Bradley breaches his order, I would encourage them to report it by phoning the new police non emergency number on 101.”

Cabinet Member for Internal and Environmental Services at Rochdale Council, Councillor Martin Burke, said: “This type of behaviour really affects the quality of life of residents in our borough and for that reason, we simply will not tolerate it.

“Fortunately, yobbish individuals like Bradley are not reflective of the vast majority of young people in our borough, who are well behaved and keen to get involved in the many positive activities our youth service provides.”