Teenage terrors named and shamed

Anti-Social Behaviour Orders were imposed by Hastings Magistrates on Monday on Daniel Cunningham, 15, of Buxton Drive and Scott Oliver, 14, of Blackmill Close.

A total of 18 witnesses made use of the Safer Sidley scheme, filling in statement forms left by police in local shops and electing to have their evidence presented to the court on their behalf by key members of the community.

Their evidence enabled police to seek the Orders under Section One of the 1998 Crime and Disorder Act in the adult court as a civil action.

The evidence catalogued a series of anti-social acts by Cunningham and Oliver over several months.

These included violent and abusive language to shopkeepers, breaking into shop compounds and climbing over stock, climbing on to the roofs of Sidley properties and throwing stones at passing cars.

The six-month Anti Social Behaviour Orders impose a 9pm-6am curfew on the Sidley boys.

They ban the boys from areas of Sidley, the limits being defined on a marked map.

The orders prohibit each boy from "behaving in a manner which causes or is likely to cause harassment, alarm or distress" to other people "or inciting or encouraging others to do so." and from using violent or abusive language to any other person.

Two exceptions to the Sidley ban enable the boys to attend the doctors' surgery by appointment and to attend Sidley Young People's Centre at specific times for counselling.

The evidence was presented in court on witnesses' behalf by Sidley county councillor Keith Bridger and Sidley trader Stuart Cowley-Wenham.

The anti-Social Behaviour Orders have been welcomed by High School Head Mike Conn.

"Bexhill High School, and I as its head, fully support the court's action in imposing Anti-Social Behaviour Orders on these boys.

Police success in obtaining the ASBOs has been the result of concerted effort by Sidley Community Beat Officer PC Keith Baldwin, assisted by PC Charlotte Williams.