 A GANG of youths terrorised a community which was mourning a man killed in a racist attack. The 10 yobs aged from 16 to 20 were blamed for a catalogue of “disturbing and serious” behaviour in Garston. The trouble started in 2006 and peaked last year, around the same time that 21-year-old Marlon Moran was stabbed to death outside his home. Several members of the gang were charged with Mr Moran’s murder but cleared after trial. Daniel Masher, then 18, was convicted of manslaughter and locked up indefinitely earlier this year. Merseyside police and Liverpool council’s anti-social behaviour unit spent months gathering 600 pieces of evidence against the gang, ranging from anonymous letters to witness statements. Around 140 people gave information against the gang, and 32 people including members of the public and police officers were due to take to the stand to give evidence as part of a five-day trial. But before the trial could get under way at Liverpool magistrates court the youths agreed to accept a two-year anti-social behaviour order. There was no detailed examination of the evidence but the prosecution case was based on allegations parts of Garston suffered threats, racial abuse and racially motivated attacks. The gang are Callum Kennedy, 19, of Winslade Road, Walton; Daniel Knowles, 17, of Banks Lane, Garston; Dennis May, 16 of York Street, Garston; Jonathan Scott, 19, of Windfield Road, Garston; Mark Wilkinson, 20, of Ballantyne Road, Garston; Michael Baxendale, 20, of Lincoln Street, Garston; Luke Kendrick, 18, of Wharfdale Street, Garston, Ian Bunting, 19, of Northmead Road, Garston, Jordan Crawford, 19, of Convent Close, Garston and Carl Masher, 17, of Atterbury Street, Toxteth. The asbo means the gang are banned from associating with each other, going into designated areas of Garston, approaching named individuals, and behaving in a way which causes harassment, alarm or distress. Crawford is only prevented from associating with named individuals. Kennedy and Knowles were also given three- month curfew orders to run alongside their asbos after breaching interim orders. District Judge Michael Abelson said the catalogue of incidents was “disturbing” and “serious”. He said: “This sort of behaviour will not be allowed to continue in south Liverpool and Garston area.” Neighbourhood inspector Ian Mason said: “This is a good result. “When the interim orders were imposed back in May there was a 57% drop in the number of incidents of anti-social behaviour reported in one area of Garston, compared to the previous three months. “PC Andy McNamee, the designated police officer for the area, has worked since late 2007 to gain the confidence of members of the community who were reluctant to come forward in the initial weeks and months following Marlon’s death. “We know there are other gangs in this area and we will be taking the same approach with them.” Cllr Marilyn Fielding, Liverpool council’s executive member for community safety, said: “This is a great result and follows a lot of work by the anti-social behaviour unit and the police. “This outcome provides much-needed reassurance for the community.” michellefiddler@liverpoolecho.co.uk | 
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