A TEENAGER who who used social network site Facebook to encourage disorder has avoided jail.

Johnny Melfah, 16, became the centre of attention last month after Worcester Youth Court granted the Press permission to publish his name.

He later admitted to inciting others to commit crime on a Facebook page called Letz start a riot during the recent country-wide disorder.

It was the first time a youth who was still to be convicted had been named in connection with the rioting, and the move sparked debate across the national media.

Today Melfah, of Thames Drive, Droitwich, appeared again before Worcester Youth Court surrounded by friends, family and members of the national media.

He was sentenced to a 12-month youth rehabilitation order, a three-month curfew of 9pm to 7am, 12 months of unpaid work and costs of £85.

During the hearing Melfah said: "I am very sorry for everything. Now I know the impact it has had on my family.

"At the time I was getting carried away with what was happening on TV."

An application by his defence solicitor to reinstate his anonymity was turned down by magistrates.

Speaking outside the court Chief Inspector Jerry Reakes-Williams said: "The scenes in some of our cities in August shocked us all. Thankfully we did not experience such disorder in the Worcester area.

"However, like elsewhere, we did see social media being used to try to incite violence and serious disorder.

"But, as ever, prevention is better than cure and here a combination of information from members of the public, together with our own enquiries, prevented what could have potentially been a serious incident in Worcester city.

"I would like to thank those people who did and do contact us with concerns over content on social media sites as, although we do monitor these sites ourselves, information from the public is vital.

"Hopefully this case will act as a deterrent to anybody else who might be tempted to incite disorder in this way whether out of naivety or with malicious intent.

"The police will do everything possible to protect the public and property and bring offenders to justice."

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