Relief as louts banned from park

Residents today spoke of their relief after a gang of six louts who drank, swore and intimidated visitors to Wolverhampton's West Park were given bans from the area lasting up to five years.

Residents were put off by the "spectacle" of the gang as they loitered around the flower beds and pavilion at West Park, drinking cheap cider and abusing police who came to try to sort out the situation.

A worker at William Hill bookmakers in the Avion centre in Whitmore Reans was sworn at and called "evil" by Carlton Campbell, who had been banned from the shop for shouting, the court heard.

Campbell kicked a police community support officer off his bike in 2008 after had accused him of burglary. The 42-year-old, of Glentworth Gardens, Whitmore Reans, told the court yesterday: "It was his own fault."

He was also accused of spitting at members of the public in the Avion Centre and shouting "Satan" at passers-by.

A 70-year-old grandmother, who has lived in Whitmore Reans for more than 30 years, afterwards told the Express & Star: "There was a crowd of them and you could smell the alcohol. It was frightening.

"I wouldn't even go down to collect my pension – I'd sooner get it from town."

Also given five-year Asbos were Clive Jackson, 52, of Allen Road, Whitmore Reans; Darren Jackson, alias Nigel Jackson, 26, of no fixed address; Loxley Palmer, 33, of Hordern Road, Whitmore Reans, and Michael Reid, 55, whose address is unknown. Donald Kerr, 49, of Chester Street, Whitmore Reans was given a two-year order as his involvement was 'less'.

An interim Asbo on Anil Jassal, 25, of Newhampton Road West, Whitmore Reans, was quashed as there were "no grounds" for a ban.