EAST LOTHIAN COUNCIL GRANTED ASBOs AGAINST MOTHER AND SON

East Lothian Council has been granted two Interim Antisocial Behaviour Orders (ASBOs) against Diane Cameron (44) and her son, Jason Hately (also known as Jason Cameron) (16), both residents of 13D Stoneybank Gardens North, Musselburgh. The Interim ASBOs were granted at Haddington Sheriff Court on 27th August 2008.

Both mother and son have a history of loud, threatening and abusive behaviour at the property, which have been the subject of numerous complaints to the Council and Police. The terms of the Interim ASBOs will prevent them from acting in an antisocial manner that is likely to cause distress to others by shouting, swearing, throwing items from the windows of the property, fighting in and around the property, being physically or verbally abusive threatening towards neighbours, or making loud banging noises and allowing amplified music to be audible from outward the property. They also prevent Cameron and her son from allowing those visiting the property to behave in such a way. The Interim ASBOs will remain in place until further Order of the Court.

Cabinet member for Community Services, Councillor Stuart Currie, said:

"This is an appalling catalogue of behaviour that both mother and son have conducted with no regard for their neighbours or others in the area. We will not tolerate one household having such a negative affect on all those around them and hope that these ASBOs send out a strong message to others who contemplate such antisocial activities."

Breaching the terms of an ASBO (full or interim) constitutes a criminal offence. Depending on the severity of the breach, the case may be dealt with by the Sheriff Court, which can impose up to six months imprisonment or a fine of up to £10,000 (or both); or by the High Court, which can impose a term of imprisonment of up to five years, an unlimited fine or both.

East Lothian Council’s Antisocial Behaviour Co-ordinator, Kenneth Black, said:

"We worked closely with Lothian and Borders Police to compile a dossier of evidence to use in court. We will exercise all the powers available to us under the Antisocial Behaviour legislation to tackle the type of behaviour complained of in this case."

ENDS

Issued by Jane Ogden-Smith, Public Information Officer, Education and Children’s Services on Monday 1 September 2008.  Phone: 01620 827199/07990 540 738

e-mail: jogden-smith@eastlothian.gov.uk