A TEENAGER who terrorised a Cheltenham community has been banned from the streets he plagued.

Police have distributed hundreds of leaflets featuring a photo of Daniel Wright, calling on residents to report him if he is caught breaching the order.

The 17-year-old, of Manser Street, ran riot around St Paul's over the past year, intimidating residents and hurling abuse at anyone who challenged him.

Now the persistent troublemaker has been issued with an antisocial behaviour order and told further offending could land him prison.

Sergeant Mark Stephens said the move would help the community take control back from yobs guilty of making other people's lives a misery.

He said: "Daniel Wright has had ample opportunity to change his behaviour and live responsibly in the community. He has thus far chosen not to do it and is now suffering the consequences of his actions.

"He and others like him need to understand a partnership exists in St Paul's between the police, the council, the housing services and the residents.

"We will stand together to hold offenders like Daniel to account, allowing people to live without fear or intimidation."

The Asbo comes after Wright committed a litany of offences, including theft, criminal damage, racial abuse and swearing at police officers. He became a notorious menace in Pittville Park where, on one occasion, he threatened another youth before attempting to steal his bicycle.

Sergeant Stephens called on people to work with police to stand up for their communities and help eradicate antisocial behaviour.

He added: "This shows we are serious about combating antisocial behaviour, but we need the public to help us by taking an equally tough stance. If residents have the courage to speak out, we can make individuals like Daniel Wright accountable for their actions."

The Asbo, which will be enforced for the next two years, means Wright will be banned from the area between Monson Avenue and Folly Lane, as well as much of Pittville Park. The ban is from 5pm to 7am daily, unless accompanied by a parent.

The order was granted by Gloucestershire Youth Court after he was convicted of disorderly behaviour in Brunswick Street – an offence that also landed him with a six-month conditional discharge.

The exclusion zone has been enforced as a direct response to residents who complained that gangs of youths were roaming the streets in St Paul's, intimidating people and dumping litter in gardens.

People living in the area applauded police on their efforts.

One man, who wanted to remain anonymous, said: "This is exactly the kind of action we want. Daniel Wright has been a menace in this community for far too long.

"I'm sure most people will be delighted we won't be seeing so much of him."

It is only the second time officers have gone door-to-door handing out leaflets to make neighbours aware of an exclusion zone in Cheltenham. Edward Crowe was banned from St Peter's earlier this year after failing to abide by the conditions of a previous Asbo.

The 24-year-old, who has just finished a nine-month prison term for racially abusing a garage worker and smashing his window with a bottle, is now banned from the streets he terrorised, including Bridge Street, Malvern Street, Waterloo Street and Hope Street.

But his father, Martin Crowe, 48, of Swindon Road, voiced fears teenagers saw Asbos as "a badge of honour" rather than a deterrent.

"If anything, it can give them something to brag about," he said.

The role of such measures has come under scrutiny in recent weeks after Home Secretary Theresa May said it was "time to move beyond the Asbo".

But police said they would continue to use measures at their disposal until new legislation was enforced by the Government. There are 14 Asbos in place in Cheltenham, all granted following criminal proceedings.