Yobs get ASBOs for riding bikes INSIDE Burnley Hospital (From Lancashire Telegraph)

Yobs get ASBOs for riding bikes INSIDE Burnley Hospital

10:30am Thursday 21st February 2013 in News By Peter Magill, Chief reporter

TWO boys who tore around the corridors of Burnley General Hospital on their bikes, terrorising staff, have been slapped with ASBOs.

Alexander Capstick, 16, of Townfield Avenue, Worsthorne, and Oliver Spencer, 14, of Humber Square, Burnley, were also abusive to residents surrounding the hospital grounds.

Their friend Daniel Wimbles, 16, of Brent Street, Burnley, was given an interim ASBO for similar behaviour.

Reedley Magistrates' Court issued the orders following an application by police in partnership with Burnley Council.

Coun Shah Hussain, the borough council’s cabinet member for community safety, said: “This is a good approach being taken by the police because it gives them the extra authority to carry out their work.

“If these boys are seen in this area in future then they can be arrested. I know some people have negative views on ASBOs but I think that they work and we are looking to implement a couple in my ward.

“If you have got ambulances, and people looking for parking spaces around the hospital, then this kind of behaviour can be very dangerous, so hopefully this will help to alleviate some of the problems which have been going on.”

PC Rachel Wells, community beat manager for the Lanehead area, applied for the two-year orders in partnership with Burnley Council.

She has now included the youngsters’ faces on a warning leaflet which will be handed out across the area.

Sgt Martyn Holt, from Burnley Police, said: “These teenagers have plagued residents in the Queensgate and Lanehead area of Burnley for years now.

“Local officers have worked together with the public and as a result we have managed to secure the two ASBOs.

“It is a great example of the police and communities working together to solve local issues. There has been a significant reduction in anti-social behaviour in both of the areas since the ASBOs have been put in place.”

Magistrates heard the three teenagers rode their bikes inside the hospital corridors, around the grounds and they were also verbally abusive to people living in neighbourhoods surrounding the hospital.

Under the terms of their ASBOs Capstick and Spencer must not use abusive language or behaviour, including offensive hand gestures, towards police or community support officers.

The duo have also been banned from throwing objects at passing people, homes and cars by magistrates.

And the order also prohibits them from hanging around with each other, and Wimbles, in any public place, except when they are at school together.

Capstick and Spencer must also steer clear of a defined area, including the hospital grounds and stretching as far south as Brennand Street and Colne Road, unless they are directly supervised by a parent, guardian or responsible adult.

A full ASBO hearing for Daniel Wimbles has been set for March 7.