TEENAGE troublemakers in part of the region were warned yesterday that the local authority intends to continue a policy of bringing them to book.

After two days of evidence at Teesside Magistrates' Court, District Judge James Proswe, agreed to an application by Redcar and Cleveland Borough Council to make a South Bank teenager the subject of the borough's first anti-social behaviour order.

And, as reported in yesterday's Northern Echo, the judge unhesitatingly lifted an order, which had prevented the media from identifying 15-year-old Craig Fletcher, from Shinwell Crescent, South Bank.

In his summing-up, Judge Prowse said: "Without some form of order in force, he will continue to behave in this manner and continue to cause alarm, harrassment and distress in the area where he lives."

Councillor Dave McLuckie, lead member for community safety with the authority, said: "Both ourselves and Cleveland Police gave long and careful consideration before applying for this anti-social behaviour order.

"We believed the evidence put before the District Judge was conclusive and we are very pleased that he has agreed.

"We hope the Order serves as a warning to other youths who feel there is no barrier to their yobbish behaviour.

"This needs to be a lesson to other young people who think they can terrorise communities. The council and the police will not hesitate to bring the full force of the law down on them and, if necessary, seek further orders."

The order, which band Fletcher from entering certain parts of South Bank, runs until his 18th birthday, in March 2004.