THIS is the face of a teenage yob who terrorised two communities with his "appalling behaviour".

As reported in Monday's Argus, Abergavenny magistrates slapped an anti-social behaviour order on Kyle Roberts, aged 17, of Arcadia Way, Trevethin, Pontypool.

He is banned from certain streets in Trevethin and Pontnewynydd for three years, as well as a school where he had threatened and abused a caretaker.

An Argus reporter successfully argued in court that a ban on identifying Roberts imposed at an earlier hearing should be lifted.

The court heard Roberts was among a group of 50 youths who made life hell for residents in Pontnewynydd by turning it into a no-go area. Prosecutor Chris Tindall said Roberts had plagued Pontnewynydd and Trevethin with "a quite appalling series of anti-social acts and abusive behaviour".

Torfaen councillor and local resident Joyce Gregory praised the decision by magistrates not to impose a ban on identifying Roberts.

She said: "The community needs to know who he is otherwise the order cannot be effective. If you are big enough to cause trouble, you are big enough to take the consequences.

"It is sad that we have to go to these lengths, but people living here have had enough. If this is what it takes then so be it. I just hope it's the turning point not just for the community, but for him."

PC Andy Cleaton, Pontypool's crime and disorder reduction officer, said the identification of Roberts would help keep the teenager in check. "Now that he has been named and pictured we would urge people to report any breaches.

"We want to thank the witnesses who have come forward so far and made this success possible.

"This is a tool by which we are enabling residents to reclaim the streets." l The order runs until Roberts' 21st birthday - June 22 2008.

He is banned from engaging in conduct which "causes or is likely to cause alarm distress or harassment to others, or inciting or encouraging others to do so", and "engaging in conduct which is or is likely to be threatening, abusive or insulting to others, or encouraging or inciting others to do so" - anywhere in Torfaen.

He is also banned from: An area in Trevethin which includes Cold Barn Farm, Elm Close, Barn Close, part of Garth Close and a section of Woodside Road; The grounds of Ysgol Gyfun Gwynllyw; George Street and surrounding area, in Pontnewynydd.