Boy, 15, signs anti-social contract

With the agreement and support of his parents, the boy has signed a binding document agreeing not to threaten traders and residents.

Sidley Community Beat Officer Keith Baldwin has wasted no time putting into effect the scheme outlined by sector commander Inspector Max Mosley to worried traders a fortnight ago.

Inspector Mosley said on Tuesday: "We have our first Anti-Social Behaviour Contract.

"It is a contract which he has signed and his parents have also signed. And the good thing is that the parents are very supportive and happy to modify this young man's behaviour.

"He has made threats to various shopkeepers and residents but he has behaved in a way which stops short of a substantive criminal offence.

"But he has been an outright nuisance.

"PC Baldwin has assembled a complete dossier of evidence against him, including information provided by members of the public via the pro formas we have left in Sidley shops.

"We have several people prepared to give hard evidence on behalf of people who have suffered a problem from this young man's behaviour.

"Hopefully, the contract will get him to modify his behaviour.

"If it doesn't then this contract will provide evidence for the magistrates.

"He has had fair warning and that means they will regard it as a much more serious situation if we have to apply for a full-blown Anti-Social Behaviour Order at a later date.

"Sometimes it is important for these young people to have an incentive not to behave badly. He will be able to say to his peers that he has got a lot more to lose than they have."