AN 18-year-old youth has been banned from parts of a Bolton estate after terrorising residents.

Robin Lee Giles, who lives in the Johnson Fold area of Bolton, is the fourth person to be subjected to an anti-social behaviour order in the borough.

The town's magistrates imposed the order after hearing that Giles had committed a catalogue of crimes and caused misery in the neighbourhood.

The court heard that over the last two years he had been convicted of burglary, robbery and theft in the Johnson Fold area and had caused fear to residents by damaging property, threatening people and, on one occasion, causing actual bodily harm.

The magistrates banned the 18-year-old from entering defined areas of Bolton including large parts of the Johnson Fold estate. The court also banned Giles from congregating with groups of more than four people in a manner that would cause someone to fear for their safety.

He was also ordered not to use threatening language or behaviour or damage or threaten to damage any property anywhere in Bolton.

Giles must behave properly for the next four years or face a maximum five years' imprisonment.

Anti-Social Behaviour Orders were introduced by the Government in 1998 in the Crime and Disorder Act. The Local Authority and the police, acting in consultation, may apply to the magistrates court for what is in effect a banning order, protecting the community from a named individual who has caused alarm, harassment or distress.

The order is brought under civil proceedings, yet a breach of an order is a criminal offence leading to arrest and charge.

Councillor Frank White, Bolton Council's Executive Member for Social Inclusion and Community Safety, said: "The main purpose of Anti-Social Behaviour Orders is to protect the community from the behaviour of a few who can cause mayhem.

"This young man terrorised people in the Johnson Fold area and the order has been carefully worded to ensure that those residents are protected from further incidents or threats. I would also remind parents of the responsibility that they have for ensuring that their children's behaviour is acceptable. The council takes this problem very seriously and will where necessary use tough enforcement action."

Inspector John Dunstan of Bolton police, said: "This order is further evidence of our commitment to working in partnership with the council and local people to tackle issues of crime and anti-social behaviour in Bolton."