A teenager has been banned from harassing residents of a Wiltshire town.

The 14-year-old, who cannot be named for legal reasons, was given the criminal behaviour order on Tuesday (April 25), with the condition not to cause harassment, alarm or distress to the residents or businesses of Malmesbury.

He had pleaded guilty to harassing two people and assaulting a third.

The boy, from Malmesbury, was also given a nine-month youth referral order, a community sentence given to children that will see him meet with the youth offending team to draw up a contract which he must adhere to.

The teenager was given a restraining order preventing him from contacting the harassment victims for the next six months.

Neighbourhood Sgt Katharine Smith welcomed the court's decision, saying: "This is a robust sentence and will hopefully encourage the teenager to see the error of his ways and think about the choices he is making in life.

"The CBO is a positive step forward and an acknowledgement by the court of his offending behaviour, which we understand has caused significant distress across the community recently.”

PC Jo Phelps added: "We take all forms of antisocial behaviour and harassment incredibly seriously and we will not hesitate to bring offenders to justice.