A TEENAGE thug who terrorised residents on the Rifle Range housing estate has been barred from parts of Kidderminster.

Fifteen-year-old Kevin Pugh, from Jubilee Drive North, was handed an Anti-Social Behaviour Order by Kidderminster magistrates on Friday.

Chairman of the bench, Susan Thompson, said the two-and-a-half-year mandate - which expires on the teenager's 18th birthday - was necessary to protect his victims, who had suffered harassment, alarm and distress.

After being handed a file of witness statements, Mrs Thompson warned the teenager, who subjected residents to verbal abuse and threats of violence, he would face a custodial sentence if he breached the order.

Witnesses, including Kidderminster policemen and a community street warden, said in their statements that the former Birchen Coppice Middle School pupil, who attends the Pupil Referral Unit in Bewdley Road, had raced around the streets on quad bikes, mopeds and scooters.

One Rifle Range resident reported Pugh calling her a "prostitute" and said he was the "deputy ringleader" of a gang which had put human excrement in her back garden.

PC Iain Standing said another man had reported Pugh threatening him with a wooden stick and calling him a "nonce".

"On one occasion, Kevin Pugh walked up to me and threatened to hit me," one resident's statement said.

"I'm intimidated and very frightened of them although I try not to show it. If I see them outside the house then I stay inside."

She went on: "Pugh and another boy frequently said to me that they would 'get a knife to me'. Once they said to me 'it's not the knife you want to worry about, wait until we get a gun'."

She added: "To be truthful, I could not say exactly who said that but it was either or."

Colin Cross, wetlands site manager for Wyre Forest District Council, added Pugh -- who also breached an acceptable behaviour contract made last October - had frightened cattle grazing on the Rifle Range's Site of Special Scientific Interest.

A teacher from a Kidderminster school also reported a number of incidents involving Pugh.

On one occasion, Pugh entered the school playing fields and swore at him repeatedly in front of his pupils.

"I would describe Pugh's manner as very threatening and aggressive," he said, "His eyes were bloodshot and glazed and I formed the impression he was not fully aware of his actions.

"I thought he might hit me during the tirade of abuse."

During discussions on the length of the penalty imposed, it also emerged Pugh had been reprimanded for battery in March, 2001.

The teenager's solicitor, Jason Aris, said his client agreed he had behaved in an anti-social manner and only disagreed with some of the witnesses' points but said Pugh's behaviour had improved since the last statement was made in November.

He added Pugh did not intend to carry out any more criminal acts.

The magistrates, however, refused his requests for a two-year order and modifications to the geographical locations of the ban.

In response to Mr Aris's request for a two-year order, West Mercia Constabulary solicitor, Catherine Girvan, said: "The application majors on non-recent events but that is not to say there have not been more longstanding problems.

"I would submit it's fairly unusual for someone of his young years to have been subject to a reprimand for battery."

When imposing the order, which expires on September 1, 2006, Mrs Thompson said: "Since July 15 last year, you have acted in an anti-social manner that has caused or was likely to cause harassment, alarm and distress and the ASBO is necessary to protect people from further anti-social acts by you."

She added: "You've upset a lot of people with your behaviour and there are special conditions on your order which are necessary to prevent further acts of anti-social behaviour.

"If you don't observe these conditions you will be brought back before the court and, if found guilty, you face custody.

"It's very, very serious. You have got to behave yourself."

Order bans thug Pugh from...

1.Entering the following in Kidderminster:

i) The area shown on the map, save to enter Avon Road solely for access to and from his home address via Jubilee Drive North towards the traffic island by Binder's Supermarket.

ii) Any school which he is not a member of.

2. Using or threatening violence or encouraging anyone to do so.

3. Using foul or abusive language or gestures or encouraging anyone to do so.

4. Riding or driving any pedal cycle or any mechanically propelled vehicle to the annoyance of others or in an anti-social manner or encouraging anyone else to do so.

5 Throwing any stone, can, brick or other object or material or encouraging anyone else to do so.

6. Causing any damage to property or encouraging anyone else to do so.

7. Acting in a manner likely to cause harassment, alarm or distress including, but not restricted to, defecating or leaving excrement in gardens or public spaces.