TWO notorious brothers have been locked-up for breaching their anti-social behaviour orders (Asbos).

Christopher Turner, aged 20, and 18-year-old Philip, both formerly of Christianfields Avenue, Gravesend, were jailed for four months for breaching their Asbos by riding motorbikes off-road.

The pair are part of a gang which has terrorised residents on the Kings Farm estate, causing six families to flea from their homes and intimidating witnesses to the point they have been too frightened to come forward with evidence.

North Kent police's anti-social behaviour chief Sergeant Adrian Payne said: "We hope these sentences will send a message to youths, not only in Kings Farm but in north Kent, as far as the courts and the police are concerned breaching Asbos is a very serious matter."

Christopher, who was issued a 10-year Asbo in June 2003, was hauled in front of Medway magistrates charged with three breaches on October 22 but police asked for a further six to be considered, all of which occurred between June and August 2004.

His offences were largely riding a motorbike off-road the last offence involved him riding on land along the A2 towards Dartford but also for driving without a licence or insurance.

His younger brother was jailed two days earlier by Dartford magistrates for breaching his Asbo, which was slapped on him in April 2003.

The pair belonged to a gang which was targeted by police last year after its anti-social behaviour became so extreme six families abandoned their homes and were too frightened even to return and collect their belongings, despite police protection. Gravesham Council paid £50,000 to re-house them.

Handling the case, PC Alan Thornley says officers had to rely on their own evidence to bring them to court.

"There were a lot of complaints from residents but we didn't want to expose them to intimidation and the repercussions of coming forward," he said. "Hopefully this will improve their quality of life."