A MAN who brought serious violence and disorder in two communities within the valleys was given a three-year anti-social behaviour order yesterday.

Alan Pearce (pictured) became only the third person in Blaenau Gwent to have such an order placed upon him after pleading guilty to a string of offences.

The 22-year-old unemployed father-of-one from The Walk, Nantyglo, appeared in Caerphilly magistrates court for sentencing on seven offences committed between December of last year and February of this year.

This included actual bodily harm, resisting arrest, and causing harassment, alarm or distress.

The court heard that Pearce, who had been in custody on remand for the last four months, had 28 convictions on a criminal record stretching back to 1995.

In order to protect the communities of Nantyglo and Blaina from Pearce, a post-conviction ASBO was applied for by Safer Blaenau Gwent partnership which is made up of police and council officers.

For the next three years, Pearce must not: l Enter Blaina High Street at any time. l Carry any offensive weapons or any objects with the intention of harming another person. l Cause harassment, alarm or distress to any person. l Use abusive, threatening, or bad language or behaviour towards any person which includes swearing or any other indecent language. l Be under the influence of any intoxicants in a public place. l Cause damage to property belonging to another person or organisation.

Milly Milanes, prosecuting, said Pearce assaulted Steve Knapp while he was out celebrating New Year's Eve on Blaina High Street, and kicked a neighbour's car on December 17 of last year.

She added: "Mr Pearce displays character traits of serious violence and disorder.

"He is a 22-year-old man who has repeatedly committed offences in the area where he lives.

"It is clear from the evidence that he needs to be made subject to an ASBO."

Jonathan Griffiths, defending, said: "There is no opposition to the ASBO because Mr Pearce feels it will assist him in keeping out of trouble."

Chairman of the magistrates, Bernard Llewellyn, revoked a community punishment that Pearce had breached and imposed an 18 month drug treatment and testing order on him.

As well as imposing a three year ASBO, Mr Llewellyn ordered Pearce to pay £250 compensation to Steve Knapp for the assault, £100 to the neighbour whose car he kicked and a further £100 in prosecution costs.

PC Gareth Jones, crime and disorder reduction officer at Brynmawr police station, said: "This application was made in order to protect the communities of Blaina and the Coed Cae estate and to send a clear message that the police and the wider community will not tolerate anti-social and disorderly behaviour from the small minority of individuals who raise the fear of crime."