A TEENAGE tearaway has been named and shamed by magistrates as part of a council's crackdown on nuisance neighbours.

Housing bosses took the drastic step of going to court to obtain an Anti-Social Behaviour Order (ASBO) against Steven Pearce, 16.

Describing it as a last resort action, it is the first time the authority has sought an ASBO against a juvenile.

It means that Pearce, from St Helen Auckland, near Bishop Auckland, must comply with a list of eight conditions or he could be arrested. His family could even be evicted.

Wear Valley District Council listed 14 examples of the youth's bad behaviour when he appeared before magistrates at Bishop Auckland.

They claimed he had thrown stones, bricks and eggs at people and property and had racially abused a couple.

Granting the three-year order, magistrates also ruled that Pearce's identity should not be protected, even though the law regards him as a juvenile.

Bench chairman John Hehir said: "A strong message should go out that behaviour of this kind should not be tolerated."

After the case, a council spokesman said: "Our first priority is to protect the community and they have had to put up with unacceptable levels of behaviour from this young man."

The council said it had worked hard with police, social services and Pearce's parents, Eunice Dawson and Stephen Pearce, to try to help the boy.

But Mrs Dawson said: "They have picked on him. He is not the only one. I accept that he has done wrong and will make sure he complies with the order.