THIS is the face of the teenager who has made the lives of people living in West Wight a misery.

Steven Thurman, 15, has been named and shamed as the first person on the Island to be made the subject of an antisocial behaviour order (Asbo).

Thurman, of School Green Road in Freshwater, pushed fireworks through people's letter boxes, threw stones at passers-by and let off fire extinguishers and fire alarms at his local youth club.

Unusually, magistrates decided to lift a ban which normally protects the identity of young people in court proceedings because they believed it was in the public interest.

The court heard how for the past year Thurman had blighted the lives of people living in Freshwater, engaging in disorderly behaviour, trespass and acts of vandalism.

The order is in place for two years and means that Thurman is now banned from entering West Wight Youth Club, West Wight Leisure Centre, throwing stones at vehicles, property and other people and trespassing or climbing on to buildings without the owner's permission.

He is also barred from causing harassment, alarm and distress to people who are not members of his family and banned from entering parts of Stroud Recreation Ground.

In court, Thurman's mother, Lynn Thurman, argued against magistrates imposing the order.

She told the bench there had never been a problem with her son being rude to anybody outside of his own family.

She added that her son had been taunted at school for a disability. "The police don't really know Steven. He did not learn to mix with other children. He has been let down by society."

Inspector Steve Evans, the Isle of Wight police's Asbo co-ordinator, said: "Persistent anti-social behaviour is a problem that traditionally we have been ill-equipped to address, so it is good to see this relatively new

legislation being used on the Island.

"The real value of the order is that it is primarily preventative, putting an end to persistent anti-social behaviour, and finally giving residents some peace. If the order is breached, the offender can be arrested and taken back to court, where they can receive up to five years in prison."

Niki Haytack, crime and disorder manager for Isle of Wight Council, said: "The antisocial behaviour of the few should never be allowed to affect the lives of many.

"By working in partnership with local people we will take action against those causing antisocial behaviour."

Anyone wanting more information about how to tackle anti-social behaviour should contact the crime and disorder team on 01983 822696.