ASBO bans drug baron from borough for five years

A drug dealer who used a blow torch and a baseball bat to terrorise his victoms has been banned from entering the borough of Hounslow for five years after being issued with an ASBO.

Kamal Wright, 26, left some people so scared they feared for their lives, Feltham Magistrates' Court was told. Wright, also known as Kalvin, of Lakeside Road, Hammersmith, threatened to burn down the home of one person who owned him money, and stated if he was crossed he would kill the person's family.

According to the report, the court was told officers had information about the alleged drug dealing but could not prosecute as potential witnesses were too scared to give evidence. Police had numerous accounts of him using 'runners' to deal heroin who he would control using fear and violence. The fear he imposed on his victims was so great many stated they feared for their lives and one is reported to have committed suicide. The court heard statements from officers who had seen the injuries of people claiming to be his victim but all were too scared to give evidence.

Many of these were young people from the area who had become involved in low level drug dealing not anticipating it would bring them in contact with such a violent criminal.

The court heard how the heroin and crack dealer earned at least £190,000 a year by recruiting children as young as 13 from homes and hostels and forcing them to deal hard drugs. Two boys from a care home who had been recruited by Wright as his 'runners' were moved to a different part of London when the management of the care home they resided at became aware of their fears. Another of Wright's victims who owed him money received threats to burn his house and Wright stated if he was crossed the victim's family would die.

Wright was allegedly responsible for the near strangulation of two victims - one with a belt around her throat where she was dragged around in her own room and one in a public park. Another victim received burns from a cigarette lighter and blowtorch to his chest and groin area.

Whilst he was in prison Wright was strongly suspected of slashing another prisoner and threatened to pour boiling water over him - the victim was a drug runner for an opposing gang. After his release from prison he threatened a warder when they were collecting his children from school.

Wright's barrister told magistrates his client was not the person known as Kalvin and was not involved in the numerous accounts of drug dealing and intimidation.

Police used specialists in mobile phones to prove that a phone that was found in Wright's possession received a text message from his girlfriend using the name of Kamal as well as text messages from runners who knew him as Kalvin.

The court issued an ASBO stopping Wright from entering Hounslow for five years and banning him from assaulting, abusing or threatening anyone in the boroughs of Hounslow, Richmond Upon Thames, Ealing and Hammersmith.

Detective Sergeant Ian Tippett of the Hounslow Anti Social Behaviour Unit, who led the case against Wright said, "By preventing him from entering Hounslow he will be taken out of his 'comfort zone' where he is happy to act in an anti-social manner with little fear of arrest or prosecution due to the hold he has over his victims."

Police are asking any one who has information about Wright to contact them. They acknowledge that many of his former associates may be nervous about approaching the police but believe their success in obtaining the ASBO shows their commitment to ending what they describe as his rule of fear.

Wright who was born in Jamaica may now face deportation.

September 30, 2006