Two-year ASBO for teenager

CLEAR message . . . Tom Greenwood

A TEENAGER has received a two-year anti-social behaviour order following repeated police warnings to change his ways.

Tom Greenwood (16) was given the ASBO at Oldham Magistrates’ Court on Friday.

The order bans Greenwood from engaging in conduct which can cause or is likely to cause harassment, alarm or distress.

He is also banned from congregating in public in a group of more than five people, except for when he is taking part in organised sport, shopping, waiting for public transport or going to school.

Greenwood is also forbidden from entering areas of Austerlands and Springhead bounded by Huddersfield Road, Cooper Street, Oldham Road and Turner Street.

The order was sought by Oldham Council’s Community Safety Services Anti-Social Behaviour Team in conjunction with Greater Manchester Police.

Insp Danny Milovanovic, who heads Saddleworth and Lees Neighbourhood Policing Team, said: “Tom Greenwood was given every opportunity to change his ways but chose to ignore the advice and the support on offer.

“Hopefully this will send a clear message out to any like-minded person that the police and their partners will take positive action wherever necessary.

“Residents in Saddleworth and Lees frequently tell us that anti-social behaviour is their biggest concern.

“Operation Divert, an initiative aimed at tackling these issues, commenced at the beginning of the year and recent analysis shows there has been a 28 per cent reduction in youth anti-social behaviour in comparison with the same period last year.

“We will continue to work hard as a partnership to reduce incidents and make people feel safer.”