Teenage tearaway breaks 'anti-social' order

TEENAGE tearaway Daniel Cunningham breached a court order by being violent and abusive, a court heard on Wednesday.

Cunningham, 16, of Buxton Drive, pleaded guilty to breaking conditions of an anti-social behaviour order at Hastings Youth Court.

His third breach of the order resulted in court action after he put a girl in a headlock and threatened two others.

Hide Ad
Hide Ad

The court heard:"The defendant was seen to get a girl in a head lock and push her to the ground. He then walked away from the scene and threatened to have two other girls beaten up."

Cunningham denied using violence but pleaded guilty to breaking the order on grounds of abusive language.

Mark Glendenning, defending, said: "Primarily, Dan accepts that he was in breach of the order in making comments which could have been interpreted as a threat. He denies there was any grabbing of the girl in a headlock or putting her to the ground. The offence is not necessarily what happened but the fact he is putting himself in breach of the order."

The ASBO prohibits Cunningham from harassing, causing alarm or causing distress to anyone in Rother. He has a 9pm-6am curfew for a period of six months, unless he gives five days notice of needing to be away from home.

Hide Ad
Hide Ad

The ASBO also prohibits him from inciting or encouraging another person to cause distress or harm or from using violent and abusive language to any other person.

Exceptions to an area ban are made for using Sidley Young Peoples Centre and Sidley Doctors Surgery.

The order was made last October under Section One of the 1998 Crime and Disorder Act in the adult court as a civil action.

Safer Sidley forms, placed in Sidley shops by police, were filled in by witnesses, enabling police to catalogue evidence of a series of anti-social acts made by Cunningham.

Hide Ad
Hide Ad

Sector Commander, Inspector Max Mosley said: "People need to start filling out the Safer Sidley forms which are still available in lots of shops and public places and from Rother Homes, who are our partners in the initiative. If we have enough complaints about certain individuals we will start the Anti Social Behaviour Order process.

"That's only half the job and we do need more facilities for young people to get involved with the community constructively. Currently they have too much time on their hands and get into trouble."

Two previous breaches saw a supervision order and fine placed on Cunningham.

Sentencing has been adjourned until April 2 for reports.

Related topics: