A NEWPORT teenager whose Asbo banned him from using his own front door was locked up for a string of offences including thefts, criminal damage, and breaching the order twice.

Marcus Ball was also charged with a number of offences including stealing from a car on the estate he was prohibited from entering.

Nineteen-year-old Ball was sent to a young offenders institution for nine months by the city's magistrates yesterday.

Rob Simkins, prosecuting, said Ball was given a five-year Asbo in March which was added to on July 11 by prohibiting him from entering Moorland Park and Broadmead Park.

As he lived on Broadmead Park, he was only allowed access to his home through the garden and back door.

Two days later he committed a "technical" breach of his Asbo by cutting across an area of the estate to get to his house, said Mr Simkins.

Ball was arrested and later bailed to appear in court yesterday. But on August 8, he committed a second breach of the order when he was seen with another person who broke into a car on Broadmead Park. Ball stole a satellite navigation system from the vehicle, said Mr Simkins.

Mr Simkins also told the magistrates about an incident in February this year when a woman "quite bravely" told him to stop interfering with a vehicle. She told the owner and Ball ran off.

Later, she was walking when she heard someone calling her name. Ball came right up to her face and shouted abuse.

"She was frightened for her children's safety and she was, and still is, very frightened what the defendant might do," said Mr Simkins.

At an earlier hearing, Ball admitted to two breaches of his Asbo and pleaded guilty to two charges of theft; using threatening, abusive and insulting words or behaviour; damaging a BMW and obstructing a police officer.

Ian George, defending, said Ball was in a perilous position and had an unenviable record. He had now breached his Asbo on four occasions.

Mr George argued that a custodial sentence had not rehabilitated Ball before and perhaps he deserved a chance by being given a community order with conditions to address his very real problems.