A TEENAGE gang leader has been banned for three years from entering the part of Bolton he terrorised.

Samuel Melia, aged 17, led a gang of up to 30 youths who brought fear to the residents of Great Lever for two years.

Alistair Bower, on behalf of Bolton Council, told Bolton Magistrates that Melia and his gang had been at the centre of a number of incidents including serious assaults, racial aggravation, vandalism, graffiti, car theft, burglary, harassment and intimidation.

The court heard that in one of the assaults, a man needed 30 stitches after Melia and his gang allegedly attacked him with an iron bar.

Another witness reported seeing Melia attacking a man with a piece of fencing while he was being held on the floor.

Melia has been served with an Anti-Social Behaviour Order (ASBO) which bans him from entering an exclusion zone in Great Lever, bordered by Lever Edge Lane, Leonard Street, Monton Street, Headingley Way and Westcourt Road.

A number of conditions were also placed on him to stop him from acting in an anti-social way.

If he breaks these conditions or enters the zone, he will face a jail sentence.

Mr Bower said: "This behaviour has been going on for so long that the people in the area are fearful of go out."

"It is people in this locality who are suffering with the level of intimidation and harrasment being caused by this young man and his gang.

The court heard that Melia, of Sevenoaks Drive, Great Lever, lived at Willows Lane, Deane, and travelled to Great Lever to visit his girlfriend.

On his visits, the gang developed and the anti-social incidents escalated.

Mr Bower said: "The gang culture was used to intimidate local residents. There have been assaults, criminal damage and a general level of disturbance.

"This behaviour has now escalated and we have reached new heights of intimidation and criminality.

"If this is not a level where intervention is required, then what is?"

Giving evidence, PC Richard Willoughby said that the gang had between 20 and 30 members and that he considered Melia to be the ringleader.

The court also heard that Melia had vandalised the Stepping Stones Youth Centre, in Paulhan Street, daubing his name with a black marker pen inside the centre and using spray paint to graffiti outside.

Eileen Barlow, chairman of the Sunnyside Residents' and Tenants Association, told the court that she had also seen Melia spray painting houses and scratching cars.

She added that one resident's yellow car was attacked 10 times and that the man, who could no longer get insurance cover, had to change cars and leave the area.

Sajeed Patel, owner and manager of the Spicez takeaway, in Higher Swan Lane, said that he had witnessed a number of incidents, including a serious assault.

He said: "I have seen Melia with his gang acting and behaving in a way which is not acceptable towards residents and customers and my family."

Ann Deakin, representing Melia, said that the councils case was based on "rumour and supposition" and that there was no supporting evidence.

She also argued that there was no proof that Melia was the ringleader and that there was at least one other youth, who was older than Melia, who could be the leader of the gang.

"Sam is being blamed for a lot of incidents that have nothing to do with him," she said.

She also accused the police of not acting quickly enough to stop certain off-licences in the area serving alcohol to under-age people.

She said that many the incidents were fuelled by alcohol.

Miss Deakin added that Melia had been taking part in a number of youth projects in a bid to better himself.

But chairman of the bench John Miles said: "We find that there is a need to protect the local community. Its also clear that many in the community have suffered harassment, alarm and distress over this period."

The ASBO will restrict Melia's movement and behaviour for three years.

The conditions include not behaving in an anti-social manner; not using threatening, abusive, insulting, racist or intimidating language; and not to enter any garden or property without the permission.

Speaking after the case, Mrs Barlow said residents would be very pleased the ASBO had been granted.

She said life had been quieter since Melias movements were restricted by an interim order.

"It has already made a big difference," she said.