A TEENAGER who has been trying to turn his life around has had most of the conditions of his Asbo lifted.

Liam Walsh, 15, of Corsham Road, Penhill, was given the anti-social behaviour order after causing mayhem on the estate where he lives.

He was the first youngster in Wiltshire to be issued with an interim anti-social behaviour order.

Yesterday Swindon magistrates agreed to lift six of the seven conditions of the order.

In May 2003 at the age of 13, Liam was banned from parts of Penhill after he was accused of turning them into no-go areas.

He was given a curfew between 9pm and 7am for leading a gang of louts who terrorised residents.

But in May 2004 the Advertiser reported how Liam had turned his life around through his passion for football.

He told the Advertiser at the time: "I've grown up a lot and settled down.

"I was running out of control and this was a wake-up call for me.

"I don't cause trouble any more and I am more responsible."

Liam found his way out of trouble when he started playing for Pinehurst-based Juventus Juniors.

Later in 2004 the Tottenham Hotspur fan signed up at New College, studying for GCSEs as well as a foundation certificate in fitness and leisure.

A Swindon Council spokeswoman said: "The court decision was to vary Liam Walsh's Anti Social Behaviour Order previously made.

"The varied order has deleted provisions that were no longer required."

The spokeswoman added that there was a prohibition maintained on Liam meeting outdoors with members of the Hanratty family of Fyfield Avenue, Penhill.

"This is a good example of the progress Swindon is making with the use of Anti-Social Behaviour Orders where early intervention has avoided the need for later sterner measures.

"As highlighted recently in the Swindon Advertiser, the use of Asbos and behaviour contracts, together with the back up of support measures, is making a significant difference in Swindon and we are now seen as performing well in resolving issues of anti-social activity."

Controlling the yobs

ANTI-Social Behaviour Orders allow magistrates and the council to ban yobs from certain areas, impose curfews and enforce other restrictions.

There are two types of Asbos:

  • Stand alone, which are imposed by the council
  • Post conviction, which magistrates impose after a youth has been convicted of a crime.

Wiltshire had the second lowest number of Asbos issued of all the counties in England, but most of those were issued in Swindon.

At the moment there are currently three stand alone and 14 post conviction Asbos against people in Swindon.

Offenders who ignore the order face fines or even imprisonment.

Swindon is also one of 60 "action areas" where police and councils have led the way in the battle against anti-social behaviour.

This includes the introduction on acceptable behaviour contracts that tearaways sign to pledge good behaviour.

Failure to honour the contract can lead to an Asbo.

New figures show that 45 yobs in the town have signed the contracts in the last two years.

Cheri Wright, the anti-social behaviour co-ordinator for Swindon Council, said: "The ABC is used as an early intervention tool and it comes after a verbal and a written warning if the behaviour still persists."

At the moment it mainly involves young offenders.