Victim was among first to face High Court order

Brian Ellis is one of five notorious crack dealers who have been banned from part of London under a ground-breaking initiative to tackle the capital's drugs trade.

Ellis, whose criminal record includes nine firearms and shotgun offences plus five cases of assaulting police, has been banned from north Kensington since 6 May.

Kensington and Chelsea council took action against Ellis - described as very violent and with a nightclub bouncer's stature - and four of his accomplices.

All have since breached the High Court order and were facing charges of being in contempt of court, which carries a sentence of up to five years' imprisonment.

The council began the action in April using an obscure law to prevent Ellis, "queen of crack" Georgette Williams, his fellow "security" officer Frankie Charles, and prostitutes Theresa Chase and Joanna Dowling entering the area between Holland Park Avenue and Harrow Road for life.

Council officers had assembled a dossier on the gang's activities at 12 known crack houses. Mr Justice Ouseley imposed the banning order after hearing the gang had netted an average of £6,500 a day, or £2.3 million a year, by selling crack cocaine.

They set up drug dens in the homes of vulnerable council tenants including mentally ill and disabled people. Kensington and Chelsea council sought the exclusion order under Section 222 of the Local Government Act 1972, which empowers local authorities to take action against people creating a "persistent nuisance".