NEWS STORY: MAY 2007

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Northwards News

Youths placed on ASBOs after racist abuse of resident

Thirteen-year-old Sean Edwards of Bankhall Walk, Harpurhey and 15-year old Jamie Worrall, of Belsyde Walk, Harpurhey, have been placed on two-year antisocial behaviour orders after evidence from Manchester City Council that they targeted a tenant with racist abuse.

The City Council evidence stated that Edwards and Worrall, with others, had targeted the resident, who is black, by congregating outside his home in Harpurhey, drinking alcohol, smoking cannabis, shouting and swearing, starting in August 2006.

Both defendants used racially abusive language towards the resident and his son.

Evidence

On November 14 last year at 5.30pm, Edwards and Worrall approached the resident and set fire to the back of his jacket. The resident quickly removed the jacket before he was harmed. As they ran away, Worrall made threats to the resident, including one saying he would burn his house down.

Evidence was submitted to Manchester magistrates court showing that Edwards and Worrall had been seen throwing fireworks at houses and residents, plus putting fireworks down grids and randomly setting off fireworks in the street. 

The pair, with another youth, were also seen lighting fires at the side of Conran Street Market in Harpurhey and throwing fireworks into the street in October last year.  They were also spotted throwing mud 'bombs' at a resident's window.

In November last year Edwards was also seen setting fire to a skip full of rubbish at the side of the market.

He, Worrall and others had also set fire to scaffolding planking in Bank Hall Walk, in the middle of a residential area, after taking it from the market.

Evidence against Worrall showed that he had also assaulted a pupil of North Manchester High School for Boys in Blackley in April, 2003, for which he was arrested and given a police reprimand.

Parenting orders

In the same month he chopped down a tree with axes along with associates in Brookdale Park, Newton Heath.

Twelve-month parenting orders were imposed on the boys' mothers, Samantha Edwards and Ann Worrall, and individual support orders (ISO's) also imposed on the defendants.

The parenting orders mean that both mothers have to comply with a schedule that includes attendance at an eight-week 'parenting your teen in Manchester' group programme run by the City Council's parenting and prevention team, and to make sure their sons attend all their scheduled appointments under their ISO's.

These include a specified number of sessions designed to address the impact of antisocial behaviour on the community and on victims and the consequences of breaching an ASBO.

Under their ASBOs, both youths are banned from using or threatening violence towards anyone or using abusive, insulting, racist and threatening language or behaviour in public.  They are also banned from throwing mud or stones at property and from associating in public with named individuals, including each other.

Edwards is banned from possessing, lighting or throwing fireworks, or attempting to do so, while Worrall is banned from throwing or attempting to throw fireworks.

Edwards is also prevented from approaching, threatening or intimidating named witnesses, while Worrall cannot threaten or intimidate the witnesses.

Edwards is also banned from entering or attempting to enter two addresses in Bankhall Walk, including the front and rear gardens, and from entering Purton Walk, Harpurhey, including any of the gardens.

No tolerance of antisocial behaviour

The Executive Member for Housing on Manchester City Council, Councillor Eddy Newman, said: "These youths have behaved in a despicable and racist way and that simply won't be tolerated in this city. We have a duty to protect our residents from this kind of extreme behaviour and we will not hesitate to use all the means at our disposal to stop it. Edwards and Worrall should be under no doubt that they are risking their freedom by continuing to act antisocially."

Chair of the Board or Northwards Housing, Ade Alao, said: "Northwards will not tolerate antisocial and racist behaviour from tenants whose homes we manage and this extends to their children. We will continue to work closely with the Council and the police to stamp out such unacceptable behaviour. We will do everything within our powers, including full use of the law, to make sure all residents in North Manchester can live in peace and harmony - regardless of their ethnicity or religion. We hope that other youths acting in this way will note our determination and our ability to use the law to penalise antisocial behaviour.

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