TWO teenagers who plagued a North-East town centre with a campaign of violence and intimidation have been fined for breaching a landmark court order.

Joanne Mafham, 18, and Claire Richards, 17, became the first female friends to be made the subject of an anti-social behaviour order(ASBO) in October.

The pair committed more than 30 recorded offences between them last year, including theft, damage and abusing shopkeepers.

Magistrates in Darlington took the rare step to curb the girls' activities, banning them from being seen together in public, harassing people and drinking.

But the pair found themselves in trouble again after they were spotted at 3am near the Mardi Gras nightclub, in Darlington, on February 22.

Mafham, of Yarm Road, Darlington, appeared at Sedgefield Magistrates' Court, in Newton Aycliffe, yesterday, where she admitted breaching the order by associating with Richards and being under the influence of alcohol in a public street.

Hari Janu, prosecuting, said: "These orders are not made lightly. There has been a serious level of offending by the defendant and her record speaks for itself.

"On this occasion, police officers attended to a group of youths outside the Mardi Gras nightclub and were aware of Claire Richards and Joanne Mafham.

"They were clinging to each other and appeared drunk and were shouting at the police officers. CCTV footage clearly shows Joanne Mafham pushing a woman in the chest and a male in the chest."

Chris Bunting, defending Mafham, said there had been a marked improvement in her behaviour since she was made subject of the ASBO and there had been no further offending, apart from the February 22 incident.

He said the teenager was afraid of Richards, of Grange Road, Darlington, who appeared to have an obsession with her.

He said: "From information I have accumulated, Claire Richards seems determined to continue contact with Joanne, in spite of the ASBO. She is genuinely concerned and frightened of Miss Richards."

Mafham also admitted four breaches of conditional discharges imposed for two counts of using insulting behaviour, riding a pedal cycle while drunk or under the influence of drugs, and taking a cycle without authority.

Magistrate David Raine said: " We take the view you were led astray by Claire Richards and were under her influence."

Mafham was fined £45 and ordered to pay £55 costs.

An order banning Richards' identity was lifted after an appeal by The Northern Echo, but the amount of her fine was not given in court.