The court heard a witness had been threatened

Samuel Bowers, 14, of Downing Grove, Hull, was warned by District Judge Fred Rutherford at Hull Magistrates' Court that he faced prison if he ignored the conditions of the order.

The ban prohibits Bowers from acting in an anti-social manner, assaulting, threatening or intimidating any person, using offensive language, trespassing or causing criminal damage anywhere in Hull.

Judge Rutherford also refused a request by the youth's lawyer Ms Caroline Shelton that Bowers' identity should not be published.

Prison threat

He said he felt it was right that those whom the order was designed to protect should know from whom they were being protected.

He told Bowers that the order meant that he should act normally and get on with his life.

"All will know the circumstances of this order, and if you fail, you may be imprisoned," he warned.

At a hearing two weeks earlier, the judge made an interim anti-social behaviour order after hearing that Bowers had threatened one of the witnesses in the case.

Fight goes on

Ms Shelton said that although her client did not accept the truth of all the allegations made against him, she agreed on his behalf that grounds for an anti-social behaviour order had been established and that an order should be made.

The application for the order detailed 22 incidents between May and September 2003, including trespass, criminal damage, riding motorcycles in the street, assault, threats, and using foul and abusive language to residents and city council staff.

John Jepson, who had made the application on behalf of Hull City Council, said: "I hope it shows that we are determined to use all the weapons available to us in the fight against anti-social behaviour, and will encourage others to join with us in our efforts."