TWO brothers have been banned from entering Colchester indefinitely after a string of criminal and anti-social behaviour offences.

Ashley and Kelvin Mathers will not be allowed to step anywhere inside the borough after a rarely used order was granted under the Local Government Act.

Ashley Mathers, 29, of no fixed address, has 42 criminal convictions and 18 public order offences, while Kelvin Mathers, 31, has 38 criminal convictions and 10 public order offences.

The majority of these involved being drunk and disorderly, assault or lighting fires.

The pair were both jailed for two years in 2004 after barricading themselves in their home during an 18-hour seige surrounded by armed police.

The flats surrounding the scene had to be evacuated after an all-day drinking session turned to violence. At one stage, the brothers climbed onto the roof and hurled tiles at officers and threatened to use a knife during the incident in Rogation Close in Stanway, Colchester.

They were also arrested for being drunk and disorderly while they were on their way to Colchester Magistrates Court to answer counts of the same offence.

In response to their repeated intimidating and aggressive behaviour, Colchester Borough Council (CBC) - via its housing firm Colchester Borough Homes - applied for a Section 222 order which was granted by Chelmsford County Court yesterday.

The order prohibits both men from entering an exclusion area around Colchester until a further order is made.

Cllr Tim Young, portfolio holder for planning, community safety and culture at CBC, said: “This incident shows how important the work undertaken by the anti-social behavior team is. This decision sends a clear message that anti-social behaviour is not acceptable and will not be tolerated in our community.

“These individuals are well known in the area, and this news will be welcome to many. The purpose of this order is to prevent local residents being subjected to anti-social behaviour.”