Notorious travelling family banned from camping in Sandwell for FIVE YEARS
They have shown a disregard to town and village communities, leaving areas of open space strewn with waste and burnt-out cars.
Now members of the Cassidy family have been banned from setting up unauthorised camps in Sandwell for five years.
While the head of the family, John Cassidy, has been told not to enter any part of Sandwell until June 2028.
It is on the order of Judge Martin McKenna following an application by Sandwell Council.
It was an extension to an injunction which applies to a 14 members of the Cassidy family.
Members were among travellers who invaded Black Patch Park in Smethwick in October in 2016, leaving waste and burnt-out vehicles.
The family has now also been ordered them to pay costs of nearly £16,000.
At a hearing at Birmingham High Court, Judge McKenna heard from solicitors for the council and police how the Cassidy family had caused anti-social behaviour including assaults, large-scale disorder, threats, intimidation, criminal damage and fly-tipping across Sandwell.
The group, along with up to 40 caravans and vehicles, set up camp on Sandwell Council and privately-owned sites more than 25 times between 2014 and 2016.
Sandwell Council’s cabinet member for regeneration and investment, Councillor Paul Moore, said: “I’m incredibly pleased that we have been successful in securing an extension to the injunction and I’d like to thank the council’s legal services team for their hard work.
“This injunction is a huge part of our success in keeping unauthorised encampments out of Sandwell.
"The original injunction we’ve had in place since last summer has worked and we’ve been able to prove that to the court.
“We’re committed to protecting our land and our residents from unauthorised encampments."
Superintendent Richard Youds from Sandwell police said, “This family have caused problems to the residents of Sandwell for a number of years.
"The Injunction was originally obtained as a result of close partnership working between Sandwell Council and West Midlands Police, with months of preparatory work resulting in over 200 exhibits being presented at the original court hearing.
"This extension provides business owners, residents and general members of the public with the reassurance they will no longer be subjected to the behaviour of this group.”
