Asbo family still banned from Wirral

Jan 20 2010 by Liam Murphy, Heswall News

A JUDGE slammed a member of a notorious Wirral family for wasting time and money after she did not turn up for a court hearing.

The Bridge family were banned from Wirral in 2005 after being accused of “serious and persistent anti-social behaviour and crime” in New Brighton, including violence and intimidation.

Karen Bridge, now of Barnes Road, Widnes, had applied to overturn the 2005 anti-social behaviour order (Asbo) so she could visit family in Wirral.

After she failed to turn up at Wirral magistrates court yesterday, she was also warned “if any member of the family breach the order in any way, they should receive a substantial custodial sentence”.

John Bridge, Karen Bridge and their sons John and Alan were banned from the borough until September 2012.

Their youngest son Luke, then 16, was banned from Wirral until March 2009.

At the time, it was believed to be the country’s largest-ever application against one family.

The Bridges subsequently moved from Wirral to Aigburth and then to Walton, but said they were forced to live in a tent after being shunned by neighbours.

But at court on Monday, the hearing to try and overturn the ban was over in a few minutes after District Judge Michael Abelson upheld the current Asbo.

He said: “It is an absolute disgrace she had the cheek to bring this application. This order was perfectly properly made and there is nothing to suggest it was not.”

Mrs Bridge’s solicitor Melanie Tomlinson told the court she had not heard from her client since November last year, and after an associate contacted Mrs Bridge, told the court her client said she was unwell and unable to attend court.

But the district judge said: “If she is unwell today – which I am suspicious about – she did not even have the courtesy to contact even her own solicitor or the court.

“It is indicative of the sort of family we are dealing with.”

After the hearing Caroline Laing, manager of Wirral Anti-Social Behaviour Team, said: “We are pleased the court rejected the application and residents can breathe a sigh of relief.”