Town ban for teen following 'months of misery'

The order bans the teenager - who cannot be named - from a number of locations around Tamworth

A teenager has been banned from entering certain areas within a town after sustained antisocial behaviour, a council has said.

Tamworth Borough Council said there was "no choice" but to apply for an injunction, as the 15-year-old had subjected individuals and businesses to "months of misery" and efforts to change his behaviour had been unsuccessful.

The boy faces arrest if he breaches the terms of the six-month order, which bans him from a shopping centre and other retailers, as well as "loitering" around certain properties.

The measure also seeks to prohibit him being under the influence of drugs or drink in a public place, and being verbally or physically threatening to anyone, including emergency service workers.

This type of antisocial behaviour injunction had not been used in Tamworth before, said the council, which added that it hoped the move would encourage a change in the boy's attitude and send a message to others causing problems in the town.

"The use of our legal powers in cases like this are a last resort; we prefer to work with perpetrators and communities to resolve issues first," said council chief executive Stephen Gabriel.

But, he said, this case was "extreme" and action had to be taken after antisocial behaviour over ten months.

"We cannot stand by while the wellbeing and property of local people and communities is put at risk," stated Mr Gabriel.

Under the order, which was granted in March, the teenager cannot enter Ankerside shopping centre, McDonald’s on Watling Street, Morrisons supermarket, Belgrave, Jump Extreme and Costa Coffee.

He is prohibited from "congregating or loitering" in the stairwells, hallways and landings of a number of the multi-occupancy buildings in the town unless invited by someone who lives there.

Tamworth Borough Council said it along with Staffordshire County Council and Staffordshire Police had to act to try to improve the lives of those impacted by the teenager's behaviour.