[Scarlett.]

A teenager has struck a victory for young thugs after an order to stop him wearing low-slung trousers and a hooded top was scrapped because it breached his 'human rights'.

Violent offender and drug user Ellis Drummond, 18, was facing a ban on the clothing worn by many young people because he was considered to be using it in an intimidatory manner.

Critics said today the decision amounted to the human rights of the criminal being put above the human rights of innocent people.

The Crown Prosecution Service had applied for him to receive an anti-social behaviour order preventing him from 'wearing trousers so low beneath the waistline that members of the public are able to see his underwear' and any tops 'with the hood up'.

But it withdrew the request following a complaint that was backed by District Judge Nicholas Leigh-Smith, who told Bedford magistrates' court: 'Some of the requirements struck me as contrary to the Human Rights Act.'

Instead Drummond, of Rushden in Northamptonshire, was given a four-year Asbo prohibiting him from using threatening behaviour, begging, or entering the grounds of Bedford College.

After the hearing, Drummond claimed victory, saying the original terms of the Asbo were 'silly'.

'My sister said they wouldn't be able to put in those conditions. It's like they're trying to change the way I dress,' he said.

He was backed by civil liberties group Big Brother Watch, which said the original Asbo would have been 'completely unenforceable'.

But director Alex Deane added: 'The proper punishment for the comically low-riding trousers favoured by some people is that we all think they look ridiculous.'

John Midgley, founder of the Campaign Against Political Correctness, complained the CPS's decision not to pursue the clothing ban meant the 'human rights of the criminal are put above the human rights of innocent people'.

He added: 'Many people use hoods to hide their faces when they are up to no good.'

A precedent for including clothing in the terms of an Asbo was set in 2005 when 16-year-old Dale Carroll from Cheetham, Manchester, became the first person in the country to be banned from wearing a hooded top.

The five-year Asbo was imposed after the teenager terrorised his community by attacking people, throwing fireworks at cyclists, and attempting to cut down a lamppost with a chainsaw.

Bedfordshire Police drafted an Asbo for Drummond in an attempt to stop his run of crimes, which included convictions for assault, possession of class B drugs, and a public order offence.

But just before the hearing on April 27, his solicitor, Simon Campbell, spoke to prosecutor Jim Davis and it was agreed the terms of the Asbo, which were to enforced in the borough of Bedford, should be changed.

The final version stated: 'He must not approach any person and aggressively beg of them money or personal items belonging to them.

'He is not to use threatening or abusive behaviour likely to cause harrassment, alarm or distress to one or more persons not of the same household as himself.

'He cannot go to Bedford College or its grounds.'

Details of the changes were handed in to the court, where District Judge Leigh-Smith confirmed the prosecution would have 'failed' to convince him the clothing bans were necessary.

The CPS said: 'The prohibitions contained in the notice to the court were drafted by Bedfordshire Police and subsequently endorsed by the CPS.

'They were based on statements provided by witnesses and victims in the criminal proceedings together with his previous convictions.

'Regarding the prohibitions relating to Mr Drummond's clothing, similar prohibitions have been granted in another anti-social behaviour case where clothing was used to intimidate others.'

It added: 'Before the court hearing, and following discussions with Mr Drummond's defence solicitor, it was decided that several of the prohibitions were no longer necessary or proportionate to protect the public from further acts of anti-social behaviour.'

Daily Mail

This shows how bad 'broken Britian' really is [/sarcasm]


I've never read such a stupid article in my whole life

[Smithy]

I've never even read the article
yes i do realise how bad the grammar in the above statement is

[Scarlett.]

Then read it

Last time I checked, wearing low pants was a crime against fashion and not an ASBO worthy offence

[Shaun]

pics or it didn't happen.

[Smithy]

I don't need to, just from the title you can tell that it's going to be a load of crap from the world gone mad

[Scarlett.]

Originally Posted by Smithy

I don't need to, just from the title you can tell that it's going to be a load of crap from the world gone mad

lol if you read the source its even clearer that the article is a pile of ageist ****e