TWO louts who waged a terror campaign on a Crewe estate have been banned from setting foot there for five years.

Adam Marshall, 19, of Stamp Avenue, and Craig Perry, 20, of Charlesworth Avenue, were served with strict anti-social behaviour orders (ASBOs) at a hearing at Knutsford Crown Court.

They each pleaded guilty to affray after beating resident Andrew Davidson unconscious on June 4 last year.

The court heard on Friday that the pair were ringleaders of a gang whose drunken and abusive behaviour over a period of months had made life on the Sherborne Road Estate a misery.

Mr Davidson and his partner, Rachel Powell had become so concerned they had installed CCTV cameras at their home in Hazelmere Way.

On the night in question, said Mark Connor, prosecuting, a group of youths started kicking the couple's garden fence shortly after 10pm.

When Miss Powell confronted them, Marshall smashed two beer bottles at her feet, prompting Mr Davidson to chase him on to a nearby green.

There Perry attacked Mr Davidson with a crutch, knocking him to floor. at which point Marshall then stamped on his head.

Mr Davidson suffered cuts and swelling to his head, face and jaw.

Officers found Marshall and Perry hiding at a nearby house, and reported they were drunk and apparently high on drugs. Both were abusive and unco-operative.

Defending Marshall, Joanne Wallbanks said her client had taken steps to address his alcohol abuse and anger while on remand.

Elizabeth Power, acting for Perry, said he had shown 'genuine remorse' for what he had done.

Recorder Simon Parrington ordered the pair to complete 240 hours' unpaid community work, banning them from the Sherborne Estate and from consuming or possessing alcohol in public for five years.

He also banned them from associating with other gang members for two years.

Maw Green Community Action Team officer, PC Tony Condon, said he was 'over the moon' with the outcome.

He added: 'Since this pair were remanded, reports of nuisance behaviour on the Sherborne Estate have plummeted.

'They were the ringleaders of a gang. Everyone knows who they are but people were afraid to speak out against them.

'Now we want the community to stand up against them. If either breach the ASBO, we want people to tell us so we can take action.'