Three youths – the youngest aged just 12 – have been hit with landmark injunctions for allegedly terrorising their neighbourhood, including smashing up property and killing and torturing people’s pets.

Maidenhead youth court issued the injunctions against the youngsters aged, 12, 14 and, 16, from Colnbrook, after repeated complaints about their behaviour. It has emerged They had even gloated about their acts online.

The injunctions mean the boys are under a curfew banning them from leaving their homes without a responsible adult between the hours of 9pm and 6am. They also cannot act in an anti-social manner that causes or is likely to cause harassment, alarm or distress to anyone – including staff at the Golden Cross service station in High Street which they have now been banned from entering.

These are the first such injunctions ever sought by Slough Borough Council and follow several months of interventions by the council, Thames Valley Police and other agencies.

Breeches under the legislation can result in arrest and even youth detention. Enforcement officers are also looking at further claims of animal cruelty to both pets and wild animals in the area.

Michelle Isabelle, anti-social behaviour coordinator for Slough Borough Council, said the youngsters left them with no other option.

She said: “We did not take the decision to request injunctions lightly, but after months and years of action by us and others, the anti-social behaviour by the boys was getting worse not better and we were left with no other option.

“We would encourage residents to continue to report anti-social behaviour to us with the reassurance we can and will take action on behaviour that blights the lives of local residents.”

Civil youth injunctions replaced Antisocial Behaviour Orders last year and can be enforced on the balance of probabilities – rather than having to be proved outright.

Paul Sohal, Slough Borough Council’s commissioner for regulation and consumer protection, described the boy’s actions as a war of harassment.

He said: “These boys are not innocent misunderstood children; they have been systematically and continuously waging a war of harassment, cruelty and antisocial behaviour on local residents.

“From the horrendous acts of animal cruelty, shooting pets and other animals with catapults, the criminal damage to homes and cars, putting others’ lives at risk and the online gloating about their acts; for too long these young people have refused to change their behaviour despite multiple offers of assistance.

“Colnbrook residents have suffered enough; we cannot and will not put up with people who have such wanton disregard for the suffering of others.”

Acting Inspector Tom O’Brien, said: “Thames Valley Police take anti-social behaviour seriously and are very pleased with this result.

“In partnership with many other agencies including Slough Borough Council we have worked hard to reduce the offending of these boys and this injunction will add to the enforcement powers available.”

Due to legal restrictions, which the court told The Observer were still in place yesterday, we have not named the boys.