Residents and police have welcomed news that a teenage terror who has been causing havoc in Telford will be subject to an anti-social behaviour order.
Luke Mansell, formerly of Park Road, Donnington, but who is now in care in Oakengates, was given the Asbo yesterday by magistrates sitting in a civil court in Telford. It comes after two years of anti-social behaviour in Donnington.
Residents said they have endured the 14-year-old trespassing in their gardens, jumping on cars, hiding in hedges, smoking and drinking in the street and setting objects on fire with lighter fuel.
Those affected say his behaviour around their homes had become unbearable, while police have struggled to find a solution.
Jan Buttery, formerly of Leonard Close, Donnington, said the boy had made her “angry and frightened”.
She said she had witnessed him trespassing, smoking, drinking and starting fires.
“The first time I ever reported him was when he was in my mother’s garden,” she said. “She’s nearly 80 and suffers from ill health. That was 18 months to two years ago.”
Sandra Smith, 59, said: “It’s made me nervous. Not just me, but for other people too. Elderly people can’t come out. They are too frightened. We shouldn’t have to put up with this.”
Constable Nikki Scott, Donnington’s local policing officer, said she hoped the situation would now begin to improve.
“I think the Asbo will go some way to putting the structure and boundaries in place that Luke needs,” she said. “I feel the Asbo is something that is going to help Luke and support the police.
“He’s made people’s lives an absolute misery. He’s caused havoc around the area. He’s upset and targeted a lot of elderly residents. He’s upset people to the point where they feel they’ve got to move out.
“He’s trespassed on property and interfered with their quality of life.”
John Gregory, Telford & Wrekin Council’s principal anti-social behaviour officer, said: “Prior to this application we’ve been through a long process working in partnership with a range of agencies and organisations, putting in appropriate interventions to support Luke and to try to prevent this behaviour.”
By Lizzie Yates
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