WAYNE Bateman has been terrorising residents in Warndon for the past four years, according to shop workers in the area.

The teenage tearaway is the leader of a gang of youths which hangs around outside shops in Cranham Drive, pestering shoppers to buy them cigarettes and alcohol and hurling abuse at them if they refuse.

Despite the threat of having the Anti-Social Behaviour Order slapped on him, 14-year-old Bateman has continued to cause trouble in the area.

Elderly people in particular have been on the receiving end of his abuse. One member of staff at the Spar store, who did not want to be named, said Bateman's gang intimidated shoppers on a daily basis.

"If he's on his own he's not too bad, but when he's with others he's much worse," she said. "They egg each other on to do stupid things."

"Customers can't get in and out because they're blocking the doors."

She said she had to call the police at least once a week to deal with the gang, but said they were usually gone by the time anyone arrived. The youths have all been banned from the store for abuse and shoplifting.

They often climbed on the building or knocked bins over round the back of the shop, she said.

"Nothing seems to be done about it," said the shop worker.

"The police are busy, and if they go to court they just get a smack on the wrist."

She said the gang caused trouble when they persuaded people to buy drink and cigarettes for them, because the store's policy was to ban anyone who bought drink for minors.

"When you get abuse and you can't do anything about it, it's frustrating and you get tired of it," she said. "They need to something to get them off the streets.

"We ought to prosecute more, but we don't have the time."