City gang banned in landmark ruling

Jul 7 2006 By Mark Cowan, Birmingham Mail

THESE are the vicious thugs who today became the first to be targeted in a landmark offensive against Birmingham's gang culture.

The seven, who held an inner-city neighbourhood in a grip of fear, have been told they face jail if they continue their campaign of harassment and fear.

It is the first time police and council chiefs have taken joint action against an urban street mob in a move they say signals their intent to crack city gangs.

The seven thugs were all alleged members of the notorious Cash Money Crew linked to organised gang activity in the Newtown area of the city.

The yobs, who intimidated terrified families in their reign of terror, became the first in the city to be handed group Anti Social Behaviour Orders.

The new ruling, which will be backed by a leaflet drop to thousands of city homes, means they can no longer see each other.

The seven, who were banned from wearing hoodies in Birmingham earlier this year, were told a single breach of the ASBO would lose them their liberty. Gavin James, Elijah Hall, Luke Gustave and Nijah Miller, who are all 20, and 19-year-olds Lewis Lynch and Joshua Watson were given ASBOs at Birmingham Magistrates Court yesterday

The seventh member of the gang, 17-year-old Tyrell Meikle, can be named after the Birmingham Mail persuaded the court to lift an order preventing his identification.

All seven are banned from:

* Entering an exclusion zone in Newtown.

* Wearing any mask or garment covering the eyes, nose or mouth within the city.

* Intimidating or threatening, directly or indirectly, anyone in Birmingham.

* Meeting or gathering individually or as a group with any of the others, anywhere in the city.

Newtown teenagers James of Melbourne Avenue, Lynch of Lount Walk, Gustave of Frankfort Street, Hall of Guest Grove, Miller of New Croft, Lozells, Watson of Seals Green, Kings Norton and Meikle of Overmore Close, Lozells, must abide by the order for the next three years.

District Judge Jan Jellema said the gang had caused alarm, harassment and distress to the people of Newtown and the orders were needed to protect the public.

None of the defendants disputed the allegations of verbal and physical intimidation and assaults during the hearing.

Ian McGibbon, head of the 20 member Birmingham Anti-Social Behaviour Unit, hailed the court's decision.

"It is a very good result for the people of Newtown. This is the first time the police and council have tackled an urban street gang in this way and people will be encouraged to report any breaches to the police."

Supt Tom Coughlan from Thornhill Road Police Station, said: "West Midlands Police are absolutely determined, along with our partners at the city council to use this case as an example of how we can work together to challenge the impact of gang culture across Birmingham.

In May, the Birmingham Anti-Social Unit, working with West Midlands Police, distributed leaflets to around 3,500 households in Newtown after interim ASBOs were issued against the gang.

The gang were banned from "wearing a hood over the head (regardless of whether or not it is part of a garment) within the city of Birmingham."

They were also banned from entering parts of Newtown, meeting up with each other and named others, and approaching or threatening witnesses or family members of witnesses.

Members of the public were told not to approach them but to ring police if they saw any of them breaking their ASBO.

New, updated leaflets will distributed in the next few weeks, according to the council.

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