A TEENAGE tearaway who has plagued a Southampton community for the past year has been banned from setting foot in part of his own neighbourhood.

Thirteen-year-old David Lawrence is the youngest-ever offender to be placed under an Anti-Social Behaviour Order in the city.

Long-suffering residents in Millbrook hope his reign of terror, which has included threatening schoolchildren, will now be halted.

Southampton magistrates yesterday lifted reporting restrictions on identifying Lawrence following a joint application by the Daily Echo and the city council.

But Echo photographer Chris Moorhouse was punched to the ground outside the court following the case.

"When I wasn't looking, I was hit in the lower-right side of my jaw," he said.

"I was knocked to the ground and then a member of the public came to help."

The behaviour order imposed on Lawrence, which lasts for two years, means he must not:

Engage in conduct which causes or is likely to cause harassment, alarm or distress to others.

Unlawfully take or drive a motor vehicle.

Not enter the boundaries of Redbridge Community School, Studland Close, Cromer Road, Ballard Close and part of Studland Road.

The city council applied for the order following months of misery for residents.

Southampton magistrates were told teachers at Redbridge Community School even had to stand guard at the school gates at the end of the day to make sure Lawrence did not threaten pupils.

Roger Honey, city council safety manager, said: "David was causing very serious disruption within the area and people were afraid

"Parents were afraid to let their children go to school unattended.

"Others were simply living in fear.

"This state of affairs has continued largely until this day.

"He has caused a great deal of alarm and distress both to the pupils, parents and staff at the school."

If Lawrence, of Studland Road, who does not currently attend school, breaks any condition of the order then he will be brought back to court to face charges.

Ian Smith, chairman of the bench at Southampton Magistrates Court, told Lawrence before imposing the order: "We know you have been causing an awful lot of trouble to people.

"If you don't behave in future you will be back before this court again."

He agreed with the Daily Echo and the city council that reporting restrictions on identifying the juvenile should be lifted so residents would know who the order had been made against.

Mr Honey said after the case: "We are determined to drive out this sort of anti-social behaviour so that residents can enjoy the quiet life to which they are entitled."

Residents in Millbrook, who live in areas where Lawrence has been banned from entering, welcomed the order last night.

Sarah Bundy, 27, of Cromer Road, said: "The order is well worth it. He has been causing problems for ages.

"We've lived here for a year and a half and he is well known around here."

David Frost, 20, of Studland Road, said: "I think the order's a good idea. We had a lot of trouble around here last year.

"I think this will be good for residents, especially older people around here."

Another resident, of Studland Road, who asked not to be named, said: "It's about time this has happened.

"We've had to put up with a lot of vandalism around here in the past few months.

"I hope this will help things a bit."