News Blog

London: A family branded “worse than the neighbours from hell” have been banned from going out together.Forty-eight-year-old Leslie Brien, and sons Dean, 26, Darren, 23, and Jimmy, 18, cannot even step out of their front door with each other without police permission.
It follows 69 complaints about them including threats to kill, battery, street fighting, slashing tyres, domestic abuse, fraud, drink driving, disorderly behaviour and drug possession with intent to supply.They are also banned from pubs, being drunk, fighting, and even parking badly outside their home in Buckfastleigh, Devon.Neighbours have branded them “the Buckfastleigh Mafia” and Gipsy Lane where they live “Beirut”, a court was told.Totnes magistrates heard that Jimmy Brien and some friends invaded the home of a disabled neighbour for up to six months - smashing down the door if it was locked.They would smoke cannabis and steal his possessions. Finally, he and three terrified families moved away.The Briens - who did not attend the hearing - have been banned from every pub in the area since 2004.Police said an eviction notice had been served on them by Teign Housing and they were investigated by environmental health and social services. Prosecuter Alison Hooper said they were “worse than the neighbours from hell”.She added: “They are intimidating and abusive. They regularly threaten the public and police. Unless people live in Gipsy Lane they will not go down it unless they have to.
“Within a 20 mile radius, people fear for the safety of themselves and their families at the hands of the Briens. They’re absolutely petrified of them.”Police lawyer Peter Quinn said: “This is by far the worst order I have come across. People are emotionally and mentally terrified by them.”Teignbridge councillor Anne Fry said: “I am glad we have been able to take this necessary step to help protect our community from the damaging actions of the Brien family.”