Reign of terror ends as gang members turfed out of Black Country estate

Members of a gang who terrorised neighbours with violence, robberies and drug dealing have been thrown out of their homes.

Eight people have been removed from four rented addresses on the Moat Farm Estate, Tipton, where police say residents lived in fear of a criminal family and members of the VR6 gang.

Three others were also targeted in the operation. Police say among the 11 were members of the VR6 gang.

And some of those turfed out of their homes are relations of convicted drug lord John Anslow, who last year started a 29-year jail term for drugs offences and conspiracy to escape from custody.

A crackdown on the Tipton gang-run estate targeted those who threatened to kill other residents and were responsible for assaults, thefts, robberies and burglaries as well as dealing drugs.

The mess left behind in the garden of one of the properties.

A sign on one of the now-empty homes telling of the eviction.

Some of those have now been banned from the town, with one even being prevented from entering the whole of Sandwell, under Asbos and injunctions. Some have even been told they must not be in possession of angle grinders, axes and screwdrivers, or wear balaclavas or helmets with visors.

Amongst those removed from their homes are pensioners Doreen Bentley, 74, and Colin Taylor, 75 , both from Hawthorn Road, Tipton.

Michelle Anslow, aged 45, and Russell Anslow, 48, were the latest to be thrown out when they left their Black Country Housing Group property in Hall Lane last Tuesday.

L/R Inspector Akeel Najib, Amanda Tomlinson (chief executive of the Black Country Housing Group), Sergeant Steph Court, Sergeant Chris Roberts and Diane Wright (Sandwell safety and ASB manager).

But a relative, who did not want to be named, has disputed all the police claims, saying: "Everyone on the estate is wondering what they have ever done to them."

Those also removed from their homes include Keighley Garratt and David Brookes, both 27 from Hall Lane, and Jodie Hipkins, 30, and Chris Boot, 29, from Coronation Road. Dannielle Doody, 29, of Hawthorn Road, terminated her council tenancy on the August 4, 2013.

Brookes and Boot now have four-year Asbos banning them from Tipton along with Wayne Summers, 27, of Tamebrook Way. Lee Anslow, 27, is excluded from all of Sandwell for five years by an Asbo.