THE leader of a gang of youths who plague shoppers and store staff has been banned from a town centre.

Brian Shoulder is also subject to eight other restrictions as part of an anti-social behaviour order imposed yesterday.

North Durham magistrates made the order after hearing an application by Durham Police. It followed numerous complaints about the antics of Shoulder, 21, and a group of up to 20 younger "followers" in and around shops in the centre of Chester-le-Street.

The court heard that in one case, Shoulder threatened to stab the manager of the Co-op store after ignoring requests to leave the premises.

In another incident, he attacked a man boarding a bus in Front Street, for which he was jailed for six months last November.

Police solicitor Steve Mooney said that because Shoulder had been released early on licence, the force was seeking to restrict his movements to prevent further disorder with the gang.

Shoulder, of Trafalgar Road, Sulgrave, Washington, did not oppose the making of the order, although he expressed concern at the restrictions hindering his access to bus services from Chester-le-Street town centre to visit his mother, former partner and young child.

The magistrates agreed to make the order, which bans Shoulder from drinking in public anywhere in County Durham, and from entering an area around Front Street, and North and South Burns, Chester-le-Street.

Bench chairman Eric James told him: "This behaviour has persisted for some time and I hope you are going to change your ways."