A gang of five teenagers who made other people's lives a misery were given Anti-Social Behaviour Orders – and then posted a picture of themselves smiling and giving thumbs up on Facebook.
The gang, aged between 15 and 19, were handed Asbos for a six-month reign of terror in their neighbourhood, including racial abuse, criminal damage, harassment, arson, theft, drug misuse and graffiti.
But instead of being ashamed of their punishment, the four boys and a girl posed for a photograph with three others, giving a thumbs up to the camera while clutching their orders. They then posted the image on Facebook with the caption 'after court'.
The gang were accused of 190 incidents of anti-social behaviour between May and November last year, including racial abuse, criminal damage, harassment, arson, theft, drug misuse and graffiti.
Wirral magistrates heard that they used a tripwire outside a shop to catch customers, including an 80-year-old man who was left lying in pain as the group ran away laughing.
They were accused of kicking a cat, stealing £200 from a church, setting bins on fire, hurling stones at windows, lighting fireworks in the street and smoking cannabis.
In one example, a pregnant Asian woman was told by one of the gang: "You should go back to your own country, you ****ing p***."
One Police Community Support Officer called to deal with the group in another incident said he felt 'completely humiliated' after members repeatedly called him 'grass' and 'pig'.
A headmistress was called a 'slag' and spat on with the warning: "I'll show you now you ****ing b****."
Their behaviour was so bad that landlords complained of being unable to let homes in the area in Birkenhead, Merseyside.
Last November, the court gave the five two year interim Asbos, which were finalised this week. Conditions attached to the Asbos include being banned from the area around Borough Road in Birkenhead. They are also banned from associating with each other, except in certain circumstances.
The judge also agreed to name brothers James and Jack Hutchinson, Danny Bellis, Darren Carter, Jake Sysum, Luke Williams and sisters Amanda and Chloe Lees.
District Judge Michael Abelson told the gang: "Such disgraceful and shameful behaviour will not be tolerated. If any of you are arrested in future you should be brought back before me. I will give the first one of you to step out of line six months in jail."
Wirral Council said since the interim Asbos were issued last November, locals had reported their quality of life had improved with landlords confident enough to renovate properties previously vandalised by the gang.