THREE teenagers described as ‘a pack of animals’ have been given two-year ASBOs.

The youths left a trail of terrorised people after throwing fireworks, setting fires, smashing windows and vandalising property.

Police last month obtained interim anti-social behaviour orders against Shabaaz Khan, 14, Mujib Pathan and Mohammed Jamil Khan, both 15 in a bid to halt their behaviour.

Yesterday they were given two-year ASBOs, which includes being banned from every school premises in Blackburn and Darwen except their own, Daisyfield swimming pool, Larkhill health centre, and the area around Bowman Court, Trinity Street, where there is a residential home.

The boys have also been stopped from associating with each other and named gang members, behaving anti-socially, and taking or possessing drugs or alcohol.

In one incident, a wheelie bin was set on fire and placed against the back door of a residential home.

Community beat manager PC Emma Turner said that now every time a group of young people go past, elderly residents fear the building will be burned down.

In another incident they stormed the local swimming baths, threatened an elderly employee and tried to get into the staff area. The victim had to pull her car over on her way home as she was still in shock.

Blackburn magistrates heard the trio had wreaked havoc in the Daisyfield area for the past 12 months, with ‘DST’ graffiti tags springing up wherever they have committed a crime.

Police, who described them as ‘a pack of animals’, said the self-styled ‘Daisyfield Suicide Thugs’ had been responsible for at least 50 incidents, including:

  • Throwing fireworks
  • Smashing windows
  • Taking cannabis behind Larkhill Health Centre
  • Running across railway tracks at the back of Daisyfield Primary
  • Causing thousands of pounds of damage by vandalising the roof and air vents at Daisyfield Primary School
  • Setting fire to wheelie bins
  • Alcohol abuse
  • Vandalising cars
  • Graffiti

The orders were unopposed by the boys and their families, who were present at Blackburn Youth Court.

Prosecuting the case, Chris Kehoe said it was ‘classic anti-social behaviour’ involving rowdy and intimidatory actions against ‘particularly vulnerable people’.

Chairman of the bench, Joan Porter, said to Pathan, of Ambleside Close, said: “Making life difficult for other people isn’t fun. You might have thought it was fun at the time, but it’s time you grew up, behaved in a much more responsible way and got back to school.”

She told Mohammed Jamil Khan, of Windermere Close, to get a more ‘positive attitude’ to life and said he should make ‘more constructive use of leisure’ by becoming a better swimmer and doing ‘20 to 30 lengths’ instead of causing trouble.

Mrs Porter told Shabaaz Khan, of Accrington Road, to become a ‘more sensible and responsible person’.

After the hearing PC Turner said: “These three teenagers caused untold problems for the people of Daisyfield and I hope the orders help to restore the quality of life for local residents.

"This action should demonstrate that police will deal robustly with anyone causing anti-social behaviour whilst sending a strong message out that persistent nuisance and disorder will not be tolerated.”

Peter Fenton, head of Daisyfield Primary School, Clinton Street, welcomed the restrictions.

Mr Fenton said the ringleaders of the gang were responsible for a spate of smashed windows and trespassing on the roof over a three-month period.

He said: “It is important that we are able to use the school budget for teaching and learning activities, not wasteful repairs caused by vandalism.

“We want to come to school each day into a clean and safe working environment and the actions of these young people meant we couldn’t ensure that.

“The support of the PCSOs has been superb and instrumental in causing the perpetrators to be arrested.”