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Gang leader issued two year ASBO for terrorising neighbourhood (NCC and Notts police release)

A 17-year-old male gang leader has been issued with an ASBO for terrorising the Sneinton neighbourhood.

Nathan Keetch, 17 of Anstey Rise, Sneinton, Nottingham was issued with the two year antisocial behaviour order on 2 August 2010 at Nottingham Magistrates Court.

The court heard of twenty separate incidents of antisocial behaviour committed by Keetch and his associates since September 2009.

Offences ranged from underage drinking in an alcohol exclusion zone to criminal damage and deliberately threatening and intimidating local residents.

On 2 October 2009, Keetch was seen on Colwick Road with eight other males of similar age. The gang were lighting fireworks and throwing them around, which disturbed residents to the point where numerous anonymous complaints were made about the dangerous behaviour and the loud noise they were creating.

In December 2009, Keetch and gang members were smashing up wheelie bins on St Stephens Road, Sneinton to make sleds. When local residents had had enough and asked the group to move on, they were met with threatening and abusive behaviour.

Some people have even become too intimated and concerned for their own safety to walk their dogs in Colwick Woods, as Keetch and his friends have been known to recklessly ride off-road motorbikes in the area.

Abu Belim, Local Area Command Co-ordinator, Community Protection said:

Community Protection has worked closely with Notts Police, Social Services, the Youth Offending Team and other partner agencies who have all tried to help Mr Keetch find a route out of committing antisocial behaviour.

Unfortunately he has shunned this support and so we have had no other option than to apply to the courts to place him under the restrictions of an ASBO. If Mr Keetch chooses not to help himself by sticking to the conditions of the order, he will find himself back before the courts where he may face more serious consequences.

Keetch's ASBO which expires on the 1 August 2012 forbids him from - entering or remaining in Sneinton unless travelling through on public transport or attending a medical appointment; associating in any public place with 12 of his known gang members, being in possession of an open container of alcohol in a public place unless on licensed premises until he turns 18 years old, being in any public place after 10pm within the Nottingham City limits unless attended by parents until he is 18 years old and being found in the possession of fireworks, crowbars or metal poles within the Nottingham City limits.

Neighbourhood Policing Inspector for Sneinton and St Anns, Inspector Keith Priest said:

Nathan Keetch is one of a number of young males who are known to us for behaving antisocially in Sneinton. We are keeping a close eye on them and will take immediate action to stop any antisocial or criminal behaviour when it arises. And I intend to ensure that the intimidation and disturbance Mr Keetch and his associates have caused local residents will be put to a stop.

I fully appreciate the efforts of Community Protection in obtaining this ASBO. I urge the public to let us know if they see him breaching these conditions. However, I hope this will make Mr Keetch think twice about committing any further antisocial behaviour.

If you see Nathan Keetch breaking the terms of his Antisocial Behaviour Order, please contact Nottinghamshire Police on 0300 300 99 99 or call the anti-social behaviour helpline on 0115 915 2020.

(Friday 6 August 09:00:00 GMT)

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