Twins locked away (From Warrington Guardian)

Twins locked away

TWIN sisters Laura and Lisa Buckley will be spending Christmas in custody after breaching Anti-Social Behaviour Orders.

The 16-year-olds had broken the terms of their orders 15 times between them, the latest being breaching a 9pm curfew.

They were each made the subject of three-year ASBOs in September 2003 for a catalogue of offences over a four-year period.

They faced the possibility of prison if they breached the conditions of the ASBOs, which became a reality at Crewe Youth Court on Thursday.

The court sentenced the girls to four months each in a young offenders institution for breaching their curfew in September, Lisa twice and Laura three times.

The Buckley girls lived in Antrobus Street, Congleton, and before that in Chestnut Drive, Congleton, when they were made the subject of the ASBO.

PC Dave Newton was responsible for seeking the 2003 ASBO against the twins, and a statement from him formed part of the case in relation to the curfew breaches.

"I hope people will realise that we will deal with this problem of anti-social behaviour, and the Buckley twins had been given every opportunity to turn their lives around," said PC Newton.

In his statement to the court he said he had talked on many occasions with the girls' parents, Ian and Denise Buckley.

"I realise the pressure, strain and health problems their twin daughters have caused them, but also realise the need for reassurance to the local community," he said.

Other Congleton youths made the subject of ASBOs at the same time as the Buckley twins were beginning to turn their lives around, he said.

"They are applying to have their curfew restrictions lifted for specific events, including visits to parties and nightclubs, after showing they are in control of their behaviour and it is not having a detrimental effect on the community."

He said he had offered support to Mr and Mrs Buckley and their daughters.

This included helping the girls to obtain education which they had been lacking for many years, but they declined the offer.

He said the ASBOs needed to continue to provide reassurance for local people, and he had received many letters of thanks from residents for the way the orders had given them back their quality of life.

He was confident that the custodial sentences given to the girls would send out the message that breaches of ASBOs would not be tolerated.