Couple appeal over life pub ban
Lisa and Robert Hughes say the ban on them is unfair
A south Wales couple barred for life from drinking in public have revealed that they will appeal against the ban.
Robert and Lisa Hughes, from Rhondda, are believed to be the first in Britain to be placed under such an anti-social behaviour order (Asbo).
The couple have told BBC Wales' Week In Week Out that the ban is unfair.
But in Tuesday night's programme police warn they will continue to crack down on "ringleaders" behind nuisance behaviour.
I think we've been hard done by
Robert Hughes
Magistrates in Pontypridd placed the ban last month on the Hugheses, who are in their 30s, after they admitted public order offences.
The Asbo was brought against the couple by Rhondda Cynon Taf Council after complaints about the couple's behaviour.
Mr Hughes, 37, told Week In Week Out: "If the case may be that we've got this Asbo for life, where it means we can't go to pubs, functions, whatever, I think we've been hard done by and I will definitely be going onto my solicitor and appealing against it."
Loud music
His wife, 38, said: "I've already gone on to him (a solicitor)and said I want to appeal. It's wrong".
The couple, of Tylorstown, have also been banned from playing loud music, or entering the street where they used to live in nearby Maerdy.
Mrs Hughes was also ordered to wear an electronic tag and is forbidden from going out at night.
The programme features CCTV footage of Mr Hughes recorded by a neighbour, Brinley Jenkins, who installed cameras at his home.
I take out the ringleaders... we go for the worst first and we work our way down the list
Chief Insp Dave Dando
Mr Jenkins said: "My wife is a nervous wreck and so are a lot of people".
Jonathan Barrett, neighbourhood support officer for Rhondda Cynon Taf council, said: "Everybody who has seen the video has been shocked and appalled by the language.
"In a period of approximately three and a half minutes we counted, I believe, 54 swear words."
Mr Hughes told the programme his behaviour was a result of protectiveness towards his family.
Asked if he was frightening when he lost his temper, he said: "Yes... I am very violent, I do lose my temper... I don't care."
Mr Hughes said he would not call himself a "hard man" and he only wanted a "simple and peaceful life".
Chief Inspector Dave Dando, of South Wales Police, said nuisance behaviour would not be tolerated and those who caused harassment and alarm would suffer a similar fate to the Hugheses.
"My plan in the Rhondda is I take out the ringleaders," he said. "When we talk about problem households, we go for the worst first and we work our way down the list.
"I think the Hughes (case) is a classic.
"It sent a big shockwave through this area, that.. the police mean business, the local authority mean business, the courts mean business, that yobbish behaviour is not going to be acceptable in this community any longer."
The programme looks at other Asbo cases, including one in the north Wales village of Dwygyfylchi, where peace returned after a local man was jailed for a second time for breaching an order.
Week In Week Out is on BBC 1 Wales at 2235 BST on Tuesday.
http://news.bbc.co.uk/1/hi/wales/south_east/3807015.stm
― Dave Stelfox (Dave Stelfox), Tuesday, 15 June 2004 08:48 (twenty-two years ago)