A WINCHESTER teenager has become the first adult in the city to be hit with an Anti-Social Behaviour Order.

Christopher Darcy, 18, of Longfield Road, Winnall, was handed the punishment after recently being convicted for theft.

The order bans him from entering the Tesco superstore in Easton Lane as well as four blocks of flats in Winnall Manor Road - Braxton House, Craddock House, Dennett House and Earle House.

It will last for two years and means if Darcy enters either of the banned areas or is involved in any type of antisocial behaviour he can be arrested and brought back before a court for further punishment.

Hampshire police applied for the Anti-Social Behaviour Order (or ASBO) after Darcy was convicted at Basingstoke Magistrates Court late last year for taking a motorcycle without the owner's permission and theft from a shop.

For those offences Darcy received a 12-month community rehabilitation order and was ordered to pay a £163 fine.

Basingstoke Magistrates placed the Anti-Social Behaviour Order on Darcy last Wednesday.

PC Clive Morgan-Humphreys said: "Antisocial behaviour can be extremely upsetting and we take the issue very seriously.

"ASBOs are an excellent tool to help us combat this type of nuisance behaviour and can make a real difference to communities.

"It also gives the people responsible for antisocial behaviour a chance to change their ways," he said.

One neighbour, who asked not to be named, said: "I know of Darcy and I know the hell he has made some people's lives around here.

"I'm not surprised he's been handed this order, it's been coming for years, but let's just hope it will make a big difference to both his behaviour and the lives of those people he's hurt."

It is the second ASBO to be imposed, following an order against a 15-year-old youth from Highcliffe last September.