TROUBLEMAKERS picking on street wardens face prompt action in the courts, they were told last night.

The warning was issued by Middlesbrough Council after the local authority successfully applied through the county court for a year-long injunction against 21-year-old Craig Stephenson, of no fixed address.

The council's case was that Mr Stephenson had threatened to "jump" a group of off- duty street wardens at Grove Hill, in Middlesbrough, and incited other youths in a gang to harass them.

The injunction granted yesterday prevents Mr Stephenson from "threatening, pestering or abusing any street wardens employed by Middlesbrough Council".

Mr Stephenson, who can return to court on Monday, September 8, to appeal against the injunction, is also barred from communicating either directly or indirectly with four named wardens involved in the Grove Hill incident.

Councillor Barry Coppinger, the council's executive member for public protection, said: "This action makes it very clear that we will use the courts and our legal powers to ensure the wardens - and for that matter enforcement officers and all our employees - can do their job effectively and without fear of any kind of harassment and are ensured peace of mind when they're off-shift.''