Custody warning to Asbo teens

Three teenage brothers who waged a year-long campaign of terror against neighbours before the family's eviction from their Midland home have been ordered to behave or face being locked up.

Billy Reeves, aged 17, and his brothers Nicky, 15, and Charlie, 14, threw dog mess onto windows and burning paper at properties, jumped out of hedges at people and hurled foul and abusive language at neighbours in Ogley Road, Brownhills. The family is now living in Selborne Street, Chuckery.

The three brothers, together with four other siblings and their mother Joanne Hodgkiss, were evicted from the family's home by Walsall County Court in June and moved to a hostel for the homeless in Green Lane.

The problems continued following their move and a dossier of complaints from fellow hostel residents including allegations of theft, assault, abusive language and bullying of younger children was handed in to District Judge Michael Morris.

Yesterday, all three boys were handed Anti-Social Behaviour Orders when they appeared before Walsall Magistrates Court and given a list of conditions they must adhere to by the court – which apply to the wider areas of England and Wales in some cases.

If they breach the orders they could be brought back before the magistrates and put behind bars for up to five years if convicted.

Mr Morris refused an application by the boys' solicitor Stephen Scully to stop the Express & Star naming and publishing pictures of the trio in the interests of "open justice" and warned them about their future behaviour.

Billy Reeves was handed a two-year Asbo while his brothers' Asbos will both last for four years until midnight on December 18 2011.

Defending all three brothers, Mr Scully said they had not been in trouble since an interim Asbo was placed on them six weeks ago following their last court appearance.

The case against the Reeves brothers was brought by Walsall Council.

Conditions of the Asbo

* Can not enter any building or grounds after being notified by West Midlands Police in writing that they are trespassing.

* Not to remain on any land or in a building after being asked to leave by the owner or occupier.

* Throw, kick or discharge a missile at any people, property or vehicle in England and Wales.

* Contact or approach a number of named people including staff and residents at Green Lane hostel in Walsall.

* Abuse, threaten, harrass or intimiate a person by words, action or gesture anywhere in England and Wales.

* Damage or interfere with property belonging to someone else or threaten to do so anywhere in England and Wales.