LAWYERS fought in vain to stop police winning anti-social behaviour orders against four men alleged to be members of a violent Derby gang.

But the orders granted against Ashley Campbell, 23, Jacob Alps, 19, Kyle Noon 22 and Christian Gordon, 19, still did not go as far as police had hoped.

All four men had already been given interim Asbos, banning them from associating with each other.

But District Judge Judy Golbourn decided not to impose that restriction during a hearing at Derby and Southern Derbyshire Magistrates’ Court.

Police listed a series of violent incidents at which, they said, witnesses had placed one or more of the four men.

Solicitors for the men repeatedly asked police if there was any evidence their clients caused “harassment, alarm or distress”. Officers admitted that they did not have such evidence.

 Guy Napthine, for Campbell, of Derby, said his client had been given a £5,000 grant from the Prince’s Trust to set up a gym.

The court was told by police that the four men were part of the A1 gang.

Chief Inspector Gary Parkin.  head of Operation Redshank, which targets gang activity in Derby, told the court: “There are a number of gangs but our focus in particular is two gangs, the A1 Crew, from Allenton, and the BCT (Browning Circle Terrorists), from Sinfin.

 

“It appears from our intelligence that there are disputes between individuals of the groups.

“We have arrested a number of people. Some are on remand for other offences and some have been warned.

“We see an anti-social behaviour order as a way of helping to control these people.”

Detective Constable Phil Insley told the court there had been a reduction in firearms incidents since the interim Asbos had been placed on all four men.

David Ring, for Derbyshire police, said: “This application is on a number of incidents which occurred between May 2007 and May 2008.

“The anti-social behaviour caused by these incidents is clear by the statements that have been provided by members of the public.

“Police see the need for an order to split up any likely members of this group.”

Mr Napthine said Campbell had been visited by a mediation team of former West Midlands gang members, brought in by Derbyshire police to speak to people at risk of becoming involved in gangs in Derby.

He said his client had not been charged with any offences relating to firearms or drugs.

He said: “Chief Inspector Parkin agreed that there was not one piece of evidence that implicated Mr Campbell, other than that based on speculation, hearsay or intelligence.”

Detective Sergeant Mark Preston told the court that a search of Alps’ address had found firearms ammunition.

Laura Finch, for Alps, of Derby, who has a conviction for affray, said the evidence presented in court did not suggest that Alps had committed any anti-social acts.

Representing Noon, of Sinfin, and Gordon, of Derby, Andy Cash said: “We have heard Operation Redshank has a two-pronged approach, enforcement and taking preventative steps.

“These young men are entitled to say that they should have the opportunity to work in those ways.”