A COURT slapped an anti-social behaviour order on a teenage yob who terrorised two communities with his "appalling behaviour".

Abergavenny magistrates banned Kyle Roberts, aged 17, of Arcadia Way, Trevethin, Pontypool, from certain streets in Trevethin and Pontnewynydd for three years, as well as a school where he had threatened and abused a caretaker.

And they lifted a ban on identifying him which had been imposed at an earlier hearing.

Magistrates chairwoman Susan Blair said it was in the public interest to do so, after hearing arguments from prosecutor Chris Tindall and a South Wales Argus reporter.

The court heard Roberts was among a group of 50 youths who made life hell for residents in Pontnewynydd by turning it into a no-go area

Mr Tindall said Roberts had plagued Pontnewynydd and Trevethin with "a quite appalling series of anti-social acts and abusive behaviour".

He said: "People just going about their business were pushed, shoved, threatened and sworn at in a most abusive and aggressive manner."

He told the court Roberts also threatened to smash the windows of a local business, and acted like a "dangerous and uncontrolled child".

He added: "This is a boy who has terrorised members of a youth team who work at the Cold Barn youth club in Trevethin

"Their vehicles have been damaged and they themselves have been threatened."

Mr Tindall said workers had been terrorised to such an extent that they had asked to be escorted by colleagues to and from the site.

The court heard Roberts had "maliciously" set off fire alarms at Ysgol Gyfun Gwynllyw - Pontypool's Welsh-medium School - as well as threatening and abusing the caretaker, who was left "vulnerable and isolated".

Torfaen's community safety manager, Dave Jeremiah, said: "This young man is part of a group of people that we are particularly concerned about in the Trevethin and Pontnewynydd areas.

"He, along with other youths, has destroyed the quality of life for many of the citizens in Trevethin and Pontnewynydd over the last 18 months."

Community safety officer PC Andrew Mason said Gwent Police were committed to dealing with anti-social behaviour.

"We would encourage anyone who witnesses anti-social behaviour to report it so it can be dealt with positively."

Councillor Ivor Davies, Torfaen's member for Snatchwood, told the Argus that Roberts and other youths needed to be taught a lesson.

He said: "I welcome the move. We want to show these gangs we won't stand for this sort of behaviour."

* The order runs until Roberts' 21st birthday - June 22 2008.

He is banned from engaging in conduct which "causes or is likely to cause alarm, distress or harassment to others, or inciting or encouraging others to do so", and "engaging in conduct which is or is likely to be threatening, abusive or insulting to others, or encouraging or inciting others to do so" - anywhere in Torfaen.

He is also banned from: an area in Trevethin which includes Cold Barn Farm, Elm Close, Barn Close, part of Garth Close and a stretch of Woodside Road; the grounds of Ysgol Gyfun Gwynllyw; George Street and surrounding area in Pontnewynydd.