A family who terrorised an estate and made neighbours' lives a misery is to be thrown out of its home.

Angela Cutting, 44, and her sons Carlo Dawes, 25, and Gary Dawes, 15, were yesterday ordered to leave their house in Newick Road, Brighton, by a judge at Brighton County Court.

Brighton and Hove City Council obtained possession against the family on the Moulescoomb Estate after the court heard they had caused serious problems for years.

Sergeant Tony Lumb gave evidence of a catalogue of violence, abuse, theft and criminal damage.

He added that Carlo Dawes was in custody awaiting sentence for a serious racially aggravated assault against a local man who had been left unconscious in the road with serious injuries.

The 25-year-old had pleaded guilty with two co-defendants who cannot be named for legal reasons.

Mr Lumb said the only way local people could be protected from the behaviour of the family was for the court to make an outright possession order.

A council housing officer said she had told Ms Cutting several times about complaints made against her sons but she denied there was a problem, saying reports were invented or exaggerated.

Kevin Dirrane, Ms Cutting's brother-in-law, said she had been suffering from depression due to the problems with her children.

Judge Simon Coltart said: "I take the view nothing other than an immediate order is going to protect neighbours.

"This sort of situation cannot be allowed to continue.

"In my judgement this court should ensure other residents should be allowed to go about their business in peace.

"I am satisfied this family has terrorised the neighbourhood."

Angharad Hughes, the solicitor with the Community Safety Team, which handled the case for the council, said afterwards: "We will not tolerate anti-social behaviour of this magnitude.

"The council has a duty to its tenants to take action against people who are unwilling to comply with the terms of their tenancy agreements.

"This family has been the subject of a great many complaints to the council over a period of many years.

"This case is the latest in a number against individuals and families who have made life a misery for the people of East Brighton.

"We hope the message is beginning to come across that it is no longer acceptable to behave in an antisocial way."