Prison threat for mystery yob (From St Albans & Harpenden Review)

Prison threat for mystery yob

4:09pm Tuesday 21st July 2009

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A BOY of 14 from Welwyn Garden City faces prison if he continues to make his neighbours' lives a misery - but Review readers who could help by telling police about any misbehaviour are not allowed to know who he is.

An interim anti-social behaviour order (ASBO), granted to the borough council in April banned the boy, living in the Broadwater area, from using abusive or threatening behaviour or language, entering private property and throwing or kicking any object.

Now St Albans magistrates, shown witness statements from local people, have extended the order to a full ASBO, keeping the threat of prison over the youth until July 2011.

But paradoxically a further court order bans the Review and the council from publishing the young man's name, address or any other information which might identify him.

The council sought the ASBO, the fifth in place in the borough, after the boy failed to keep to an acceptable behaviour agreement he signed in May 2008.

Anti-social behaviour team manager Christopher Allen said: “Considering action such as an ASBO is not taken lightly. In this case it was necessary to protect members of the public affected by the individual’s behaviour."

The Review has asked the council why the publicity ban was imposed and whether officers asked the court for it to be lifted.

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