ACTION has been taken against a teenager with a lengthy criminal record for robbing schoolchildren in Bolton town centre -- in many cases taking their mobile phones.

Reece Armstrong, aged 18, of Freshfield Avenue, Great Lever, is banned from using abusive and intimidating behaviour in any public place within the Bolton area.

It is one of the conditions of a four-year Anti-Social Behavioural Order imposed upon him by Bolton magistrates.

In addition, he must not get involved in any other form of anti-social behaviour or encourage others to do so.

Magistrates also told him that he is not to publicly associate with four other named people.

Armstrong has been convicted of a series of town centre robberies where he mainly targeted schoolchildren. Many were threatened and forced to hand over their mobile phones.

Police decided to apply for the Anti-Social Behaviour Order because of his criminal history of targeting people younger than himself. Such orders restrict the movements and behaviour of offenders.

PC Stuart Roscoe, of Bolton Police, said: "We have worked hard to get this order granted and we will now be doing our utmost to ensure that he does not break the conditions imposed.

"It is our intention to use this effective legislation more widely in the future to rid estates of those people making life a misery for others in the area." They are civil proceedings, but, if breach, are punishable by up to five years in prison.

In effect, they create a set of by-laws for offenders.

The average ASBO costs more than £5,000 to enforce and takes about three months to obtain. The orders were created as part of the Crime and Disorder Act (1998) and came into force on April 1, 1999.

Bolton Council -- in partnership with the police -- can apply to the magistrates court for an order to be made.

An ASBO lasts a minimum of two years. There is no maximum period.