A TEENAGE gang has been ordered to stop terrorising a neighbourhood - or face up to five years in jail.

But the mother of two of the youths today defended her sons and branded the orders "ridiculous".

City of York Council and North Yorkshire Police won antisocial behaviour orders (ASBOs) against the six, who made lives "intolerable" for people in Foxwood, York.

Andrew Wood, 17, his brother Paul, 19, both of Doherty Walk, Foxwood, Mark Shirley, 17, of Bishopthorpe Road, York, Paul Brown, 19, and his brother, Tony, 16, of Vincent Way, Foxwood, and Daniel Both, 18, of Doherty Walk, each received an ASBO for three years.

York Youth Court heard between June last year and March this year they shouted abuse at residents, fought and shouted, stoned passing cars and threatened to set a flat ablaze.

The orders ban them from gathering in a special 'non-association zone' bounded by Moorgate, Hamilton Drive, Kingsway West, Foxwood Lane, Huntsman's Walk and Otterwood Lane and the area's railway line between 6pm and 6am.

The ASBOs also prevent them from causing violence, alarm, distress or harassment to anyone in the city of York.

District Judge Parkinson said the youths made local people's lives "intolerable" and warned they faced up to five years' prison if they breached the orders.

Ann Wood, mother of Andrew and Paul Wood, said: "I'm not saying they are innocent for one minute.

"They probably are involved in quite a bit of it, but not all of it.

"There's a crowd of about 40 to 50 kids in this area, and for them to pick just a certain six out and none of the others is unfair."

Police should be tackling more important local issues, such as drug dealing, she said

Judge Parkinson praised community officer PC Steve Rodgers for the evidence he had gathered.

Council officers and police brought the case after months of painstaking work.

Denis Southall, the council's tenancy enforcement team manager, said: "We are delighted to have secured these orders.

"They will help to ensure that people in Foxwood can be allowed to get on with their lives free of the abuse they have had to suffer from this particular group."

Superintendent John Lacy said: "These six youths have simply blighted Foxwood over many months, and I am absolutely delighted that the community and residents, working in partnership with City of York Council and the police, is fighting back."

Councillor Viv Kind said: "The council won't put up with behaviour that makes other people's lives a misery."

Updated: 11:36 Tuesday, August 14, 2001