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| Unruly ... Bridge family, pictured several years ago, all given ASBO |
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By ANDY RUSSELL
ALL five members of a family from hell were kicked out of their home and the surrounding area yesterday after a four-year reign of terror. Anti-social behaviour orders were issued against the Bridge family — who were banned from entering the Wirral in Merseyside for up to seven years. John Bridge, 40, his wife Karen, 37, and sons John Jnr, 20, Alan, 18, and Luke, 16, terrorised neighbours in New Brighton, a court heard. The family had used threatening and violent behaviour, verbal abuse and intimidation. They also indulged in criminal behaviour — including dangerous driving and organised car crime. Their thuggery was so bad that Merseyside police created a special unit to target them. The ASBOs, issued at Birkenhead Magistrates Court, ban John, Karen, John Jnr and Alan from entering the Wirral until September 2012. Luke was banned until March 2009. The five were also banned from causing harassment, alarm or distress to anyone in England and Wales for the same period. John Jnr and Alan are both currently in jail for other offences. Chief Supt Alan Jones said after the ruling: “By standing up against the intimidation of this family, members of the community have helped us reclaim their neighbourhood.” Caroline Laing, boss of Wirral’s Anti-Social Behaviour Team, added: “Residents were incredibly frightened of reprisals.”