A TEENAGE street robber has been banned from Farnworth town centre for five years after a four-year crime spree.

Aaron Booth, aged 17, used knives to threaten and rob young people. He broke into cars, houses and shops in the town centre, committing more than 30 offences.

Booth, considered to be the ringleader of a gang of young troublemakers, has now been made subject of an Anti-Social Behaviour Order banning him from going into the areas where he terrorised residents and shopkeepers.

The teenager is the second troublemaker in Bolton to have an order served on him. Shane Gibbons, from the Oldhams estate, was the first to get an order earlier this year under new powers given to the council to protect the public.

Booth, who got his first police caution when he was 10 years old, is banned from the market place and shops in the middle of Farnworth as well as the surrounding estates.

He is also banned from using violent behaviour or language, carrying a weapon, damaging or threatening property, intimidating people, or associating with four other named youths anywhere in Bolton.

Gill Hughes, anti-social behaviour order co-ordinator at the council, said after the order was granted by magistrates: "A group of youths was causing severe problems for residents in this area of Farnworth and Aaron was seen as the ringleader.

"Aaron has committed a long list of offences. The type of crimes got more vicious as time went on and by the end he was using knives to threaten young people. We had no choice but to take this action to protect residents."

A member of Farnworth Central Residents' Association, who did not want to be named for fear of reprisals, welcomed the granting of the Anti Social Behaviour Order last night.

She said: "He was a nightmare, at night and people round here were afraid to go out of their houses. He was the ringleader of the gang, they would be outside getting drunk, banging on doors and stealing alcohol from the shop.

"If they knew you were old and you were on your own they would make your life a misery. One time he threw a brick at me and then hit me with a stick. The ban is good news and the further he is away from the younger kids around here the better."

The order, which Bolton Magistrates Court imposed yesterday, starts immediately.

At least one more ASBO is currently going through the courts and Chief Supt Don Brown, head of Bolton Police, revealed last night that he is urging the imposition of more orders.

He said: "This is a step forward in ensuring the safety of the Bolton public."

"Working with Bolton Council, we have successfully removed a significant thorn in the side of members of the public in the Farnworth community.

"The order should send out a strong message across Bolton."

Booth is banned from the square area bordered by Albert Road, King Street, Market Street and Longcauseway, but he is allowed to travel along those streets.

He admitted at the Bolton Magistrates Court hearing 31 offences which took place between July 1998 and April this year.

The order took just over a month to impose from start to finish under a new policy adopted by the council to try to get orders through faster.

Instead of having a long list of witnesses, people can now tell their complaints to a few residents willing to speak in court on their behalf.

Helen Gorman, the senior lawyer who represented the council, said: "I went around to interview two people who were clearly in but were hiding, probably because they were too scared to speak for fear of reprisals.

"This has a horrific case which is what made the council push for the ASBO. I am pleased with the five-year ban."

The council will review the anti-social behaviour order every 12 months and can vary the conditions with agreement from both sides.