MAGISTRATES in the town have made a U-turn decision in identifying a troublesome youth who terrorised the Penhill and Abbey Meads community.

During the court case, held yesterday at Swindon Magistrates’ Court, chair of the bench Jane Flew decided to lift reporting restrictions banning the Adver from identifying 17-year-old Lewis Chubb.

Chubb, of Penhill, was one of a group of four teenagers originally handed interim anti-social behaviour orders back in December, but he was the only one of the group to be given a full two-year Asbo yesterday having breached the order on several occassions.

Three of the allegations of breaches are now subject to convictions, while several other allegations remain outstanding.

The remaining three youths, whom the Adver has been banned from identifying, were given three-month interim anti-social behaviour orders.

Lifting the restrictions on Chubb originally set by a previous bench, magistrate Flew said: “We are now going to lift the section 39 restriction as this has now become a full Asbo and the reasons behind the restrictions have changed.

“There is an enormous public interest in knowing you are subject to an Asbo and we feel this is necessary for open justice and protection of the public, and to deter possible future offending.

“The local population need to be aware of who has offended.”

Chubb has been banned from an area of Abbey Meads and Penhill and contacting a group of his friends, directly or indirectly.

He has also been banned from entering or being in Hannington Close in Penhill and he is prohibited from acting in an anti-social manner, or in a manner which could cause harassment, alarm or distress.

Defending, Lee Mott said: “Lewis recognises that in breaching the interim Asbo order the matter would proceed to a full asbo hearing.”

The conditions will remain until February 21, 2013.