Eight children suspected of bringing misery to the lives of residents and businesses in two Stoke-on-Trent communities have been hit with court injunctions after 105 incidents of anti-social behaviour.

Magistrates have granted permission for StokeonTrentLive to name five boys - who are aged 13 to 16 - after slapping them with interim anti-social behaviour injunctions.

They are Jordan Lowndes, aged 15; Kieron Rushton, aged 16; Lewis Stevenson, aged 16; Tyler Ward, aged 16; and 13-year-old Harvey Watkiss. There were also three other juveniles who can't be named for legal reasons.

The injunctions - which are set to remain in force until a further court appearance in August - impose restrictions on the movements of the children.

But Staffordshire Police have refused to release pictures of the teenagers and the court has banned us from publishing where they live.

The North Staffordshire Justice Centre youth court hearing follows months of anti-social behaviour plaguing Meir and Meir Park.

The court heard incidents include:

  • Fifteen youths putting a rope across Uttoxeter Road, Meir, outside Chilli Jacks kebab shop, to stop vehicles passing;
  • Youngsters being 'aggressive' and threatening to shoot staff at Meir Co-op with a Taser;
  • Foul-mouthed yobs being banned from Meir KFC for swearing;
  • Bricks thrown at the windows of a shop on Lysander Road, Meir Park;
  • Customers being spat at and staff threatened at B&Q, in Meir Park;
  • Twenty youths 'running riot' at Meir Primary Care Centre, on Weston Road;
  • Twenty youths throwing snowballs at the KFC restaurant and passing vehicles.

Prosecutor Michael Singleton told the court: "There are 105 incidents of anti-social behaviour here. The requirements for an interim order are easily satisfied as the respondents, it is alleged, have acted in an anti-social manner.

"Each and everyone of the respondents features in one or more of these incidents and they are of differing severity. Some of the more serious being that on July 3 a group of 18 youths were near the central reservation with possession of a large metal pole and abusing other members of the public.

"Outside Chilli Jacks, 15 youths put a rope over the road preventing traffic from flowing. On another occasion three youths were seen trespassing on a roof hitting an electricity box and causing the lights to go off. Causing risk of harm not just to others, but themselves.

"In October there's an incident of aggression to staff at the Co-op. They have been barred by the management at KFC for swearing at people and on one occasion said to a police community support officer that they were not a real police officer and refused to leave when asked to do so.

"On October 20, 15 youths were on Lysander Road threatening a shop owner, stopping customers from entering and throwing bricks at the windows.

Meir Primary Care Centre
Meir Primary Care Centre

"On November 19, 20 youths at Meir Primary Care Centre were running riot and bullying security. There's another incident at KFC of a wet floor sign being thrown around and threats to Taser staff in the Co-op. On January 18 at KFC 20 youths were throwing snowballs at passing vehicles and at the windows of the restaurant."

Lawyers representing the youngsters opposed the application for an anti-social behaviour injunction.

James Hulse, representing six of the youths, argued that the incidents do not specify which individuals were responsible.

He said: "In all of the examples at some point in time it says as part of a group. This could mean that the respondents were there laughing or watching but not being anti-social.

"We need to consider all of the papers relating to each individual. The court hasn't had time to properly consider the material."

Meir KFC
Meir KFC

Magistrates agreed to grant the interim anti-social behaviour injunctions pending a full hearing on August 19.

Following the case, Staffordshire Police have welcomed the granting of the eight interim injunctions.

Chief Inspector Karen Stevenson, Stoke-on-Trent South local policing team commander, said: “We will robustly enforce the orders.”

Stoke-on-Trent South MP Jack Brereton has been working to improve sports facilities at Ormiston Meridian Academy, in Meir.

He said: “It is especially disturbing that Meir Primary Care Centre was targeted on one occasion.”

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