Teenage terror given ASBO

A TEENAGER accused of theft, vandalism, unruly behaviour and swearing at police, has become the second person in Newhaven to receive an ASBO.

The boy, who magistrates banned the Express from identifying, appeared at Lewes court on Tuesday.

The order was made so the boy would not be branded a criminal before becoming an adult. Magistrates cited the fact that he suffered from Attention Deficit Hyperactivity Disorder (ADHD).

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Prosecutor James Trumble read out the boy's dealings with police.

He said between December 2006 and June 2007 he vandalised a CCTV camera, was stopped on suspicion of unruly behaviour, broke into a car and got into the Sainsbury's loading area, causing a nuisance to staff and stealing goods.

On June 20 police were called to arrest him.

Mr Trumble said: '(He] had been due to attend the police station voluntarily on the day in question but had failed to attend.

'Officers went to the house. His mother said (he] had run away from them when it was time to attend.

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'Officers found (him] on the beach. They said you know why we are here, you are going to be arrested.'

The boy was said to have sworn at and insulted officers and braced himself against the door of the police car.

Mr Trumble said: 'A party of schoolchildren was walking along the beach.

'It is mentioned the schoolchildren looked shocked and their teachers were trying to shepherd them away from the scene.

'(The boy] ran off and had to be detained later.'

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The teenager had later pleaded guilty to a public order offence.

Mr Trumble said the boy was stopped by police on June 23 for shouting. He had earlier pleaded guilty to stealing mini-motorbikes on July 3 and 4, was stopped for entering a derelict building on August 20, caused anti-social behaviour and damage on August 21, and vandalism at Grays

Infants School on the same day resulting in 100 of damage.

On September 29 he was stopped for 'mucking about' in Woolworths, Newhaven, while on November 19 he was seen 'bumping' a car down a road.

On April 13 this year staff at M&Co, Newhaven, called police when he ran round the store with a bra on his head.

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Mr Trumble said when the manager threatened to call the police he said, 'they can't do anything'.

Anthony Waller, for the boy, said the youngster suffered from ADHD and had recently been put on medication.

He said: '(The defendant] is not opposing the making of the anti-social behaviour order.

'(His] reason for doing that is he wants to try and be able to move forward and to be able to renew the relationship he has with the police.

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'To some extent there has been some redefining of the relationship with (him] proving to the police he is making genuine attempts to sort himself out.'

He added there had been no bad behaviour this year, except the April incident.

Magistrates made him the subject of a two-year ASBO with the conditions he does not cause alarm, annoyance and distress to people, cause damage to property or encourage others to do so.

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