Paul Burns represents Leeds City Council in a series of injunction applications
March 27, 2015
A GANG who spread misery on a Leeds estate during a reign of terror have been banned from the area and many have now been jailed in landmark legal action brought by Leeds City Council and the police.
Leeds County Court heard how the gang were a nightmare for residents who were too afraid to report what was happening because of a fear of revenge attacks in an area which had a strong ‘no grass’ culture. Members of the public and police were subjected to violence and threats. The gang would gather in the street as drug deals were made.
Council officials and police working in partnership launched Operation Boypark to catch key members of the group who came from long established families in the Seacroft area and benefitted from the entrenched ‘no grass’ culture. During the operation ten members of the gang were identified after covert cameras showed them behaving anti-socially and selling cannabis in broad daylight. Over a 22 day period 328 separate instances of drug dealing were filmed. The gang operated a drug order phone line which took around 2,500 calls over a 46 day period during which it was monitored. The gang were involved in a criminal conspiracy to supply drugs across north-east Leeds from their ‘stronghold’ in South Seacroft.
Leeds County Court granted final injunctions which have banned gang members from the area where they blighted so many lives. The injunctions also banned gang members from associating with each other, possessing controlled drugs or causing others nuisance or annoyance within a wider area of Seacroft. In concurrent criminal proceedings key members of the gang have recently been jailed.
Paul Burns was instructed by Adrian Tonge, Principal Legal Officer at Leeds City Council.