NEWS STORY: AUGUST 2007

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Northwards in the news

Two-year ASBO for youth who targeted family with racist abuse

pcture of Nathan Hall

Sixteen-year-old Nathan Hall of Ballantine Street, Newton Heath, who targeted a local family with racist abuse, including alleged threats with a hammer, has been placed on a two-year anti-social behaviour order.

Hall was said in statements to be the leader of a gang of youths who directed racist abuse at the couple, who have two young children, lasting for around a year.

Things came to a head on June 26 this year, according to the woman tenant, when damage was caused to her front fence. When her boyfriend went out to investigate, he was allegedly threatened with a hammer by Hall. Police officers attended the incident.

Hall was stated to have used racist abuse and made a threat to kill the tenant's boyfriend, saying, "No, no, I'm going to kill him."

Police were again called in to investigate after the rear window of the woman tenant's car was smashed while it was parked outside her home.

The couple, who are both black, stated they had regularly been subjected to harassment, including racist verbal abuse, damage to fences, stones thrown at windows and stones raised as if they were going to be thrown at them, with the situation worsening during the past 12 months.

Hall failed to turn up at Manchester magistrates court and the order was imposed in his absence.

He will be in breach of his order if he uses racist, abusive and insulting language or behaviour; carries any article in public which is capable of causing harm to someone, including a hammer; or congregates in a group of more than three people in Finchley Avenue, Newton Heath.

Ade Alao, Chair of Northwards Housing Board, said ''We will continue to work with the council and police to stamp out such unacceptable behaviour and make sure all residents in north Manchester can live in peace and harmony. We hope that others acting in this way will note our determination and our ability to use the law to tackle antisocial behaviour.''

The Executive Member for Neighbourhood Services at Manchester City Council, Councillor Eddy Newman , said: "This family have been subjected to intolerable racist abuse and we will do everything in our power to protect them. I want to send out this message to anyone who thinks they can racially harass or threaten people in this city: we will take immediate action against you and if you persist then you will face severe consequences.

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