Three-year Oldbury town centre ban for yobs who threatened shoppers and smoked cannabis

Anti-social behaviour orders were slapped on 20-year-olds Mohsin Hussain and Zafran Munir after a string of complaints from people in Oldbury.

Residents and businesses said they were causing a persistent nuisance in and around the town centre.

They were reportedly seen smoking cannabis and drinking alcohol in public and intimidating shoppers and workers by acting in a threatening manner.

The ASBOs, which last until February 27, 2018, ban them from entering an area of the town centre bordered by Oldbury Ringway, Bromford Road, Century Road and Broadwell Road, apart from parts of McKean Road.

Both are also allowed in Church Street when visiting Jobcentre Plus or Sandwell Council House.

It means the pair are banned from drinking alcohol in any public place.

The orders also ban them from contacting named victims of their behaviour, as well as associating in any public place in Sandwell with each other and other named people.

They must not use violence or behave in a threatening way, use racist, sexually explicit or offensive words in public.

Anyone who breaches an ASBO can face up to five years in prison, a fine, or both.

Pc Phillip Tedstill, from Oldbury Police said: "This ASBO sends a clear message to would-be offenders that the community, police and the council will not stand for anti-social behaviour.

"Hussain and Munir have caused misery and disruption to local residents and businesses for months and, despite the interventions of local police and the council, they have chosen to continue with their anti-social ways They are now paying the price"Should the pair breach the order, they run the very real risk of being arrested, brought before the courts and jailed."

Gary Bowman, service manager at Sandwell Council, said: "These orders will help give respite to the local community from the behaviour of these two men. I would urge people to report any breaches of these orders to police by calling 101."

Sandwell Magistrates Court granted the orders against Hussain, of McKean Road, Oldbury, and Munir, of West Bromwich Street, Oldbury.

The pair are the latest in Sandwell to feel the force of the crackdown on anti-social behaviour.

Four ASBOs as well as two anti-social behaviour injunctions were issued when 11 people were taken to court in August last year.

Eight people were 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 who had terrorised the neighbourhood.

Some of those turfed out of their homes were relations of convicted drug baron John Anslow, who was infamously sprung from a prison van.