Ref. 25745-38AN ANTI-Social Behaviour Order has been granted against a teenager alleged to have led a gang accused of turning parts of Penhill into a no-go area.

But the family of Liam Walsh, 13, have raised a petition with several hundred signatures, saying he has been treated unfairly.

At Swindon Magistrates Court, Liam, of Corsham Road, became only the second young person in the county to be made the subject of an ASBO, a civil order introduced in 1998 to stop troublemakers from terrorising their neighbourhoods.

The other is another teenager from the Swindon area, who cannot be named for legal reasons.

Liam is alleged to have been one of a gang causing a nuisance around Braydon Court, Clive Parade, Everleigh Road Community Centre, Penhill Library, the Penhill IT Centre and the John Moulton Hall.

In May, he was made the subject of an interim ASBO while yesterday's case was prepared. Under the terms of the order, which will run for three years, he must not:

associate with certain named outdoors in Penhill;

loiter within 20 yards of the Braydon Court area unless with a parent;

loiter within 10 yards of the Clive Parade area;

loiter within 20 yards of Everleigh Road Community Centre.

go to the library, the IT centre or the hall.

He must also observe a curfew between 9pm and 7am, except on Fridays when the evening curfew is extended to 10.30pm to allow Liam to take part in activities relating to a previous court order against him.

If he breaches the order, he will be liable to criminal proceedings, with possible punishments ultimately including detention.

The council was represented at the hearing by borough solicitor, Francis Maples, who said afterwards: "We heard the community's pain and tried do something about it. I think we are celebrating a success.

"For months and months a gang of youngsters, of which he was the ringleader, caused real grief to large numbers of people, both residents and members of the business community.

"To his credit, he has complied with the interim ASBO.

"Residents in Braydon Court in particular report that things are much improved, and I am glad the court action involving the council and the police working together has had a positive effect."

During the hearing, Mr Maples and Rob Ross, Liam's solicitor, said Liam had complied with the terms of the interim order.

Swindon police's North Sector inspector, Wendy Grant, said: "The ASBO is a positive step and reinforces our commitment to the policing of anti-social behaviour problems in the borough. Anti-social behaviour is distressing and detrimental to the harmony of local communities.

"It is unacceptable and we are committed to policing the problem both positively and sensitively."