THIS is the face of a teenage gang member who brought terror to a community.

Magistrates ruled that 15-year-old Mitchell Ellis, of Neerings, Coed Eva, Cwmbran, should be publicly identified so members of the community could report any breaches of an anti-social behaviour order.

The ASBO bans him from Fairwater High School and leisure centre until his 21st birthday.

Prosecutor Chris Tindall, acting for Torfaen council, told Abergavenny magistrates yesterday that Ellis' behaviour was "nothing short of appalling", and said he had been involved in a "series of assaults", and had "created fear in the community", as part of a notorious group of youths known as the Pantry Shop Gang.

"There is ample evidence of alarm, distress and harassment in the community," he said, adding that pupils and staff at Fairwater High School had also been threatened by Ellis on a regular basis.

Magistrates heard how Ellis pleaded guilty to disorder at Cwmbran magistrates court in May, following an incident in November 2003, in which a man was chased through the streets in Fairwater and hit by a brick, although Ellis did not throw the brick.

The court also heard Ellis was involved in a fight at Cwmbran carnival and pleaded guilty to possession of an offensive weapon - a baseball bat, following another incident in July.

Magistrates were told teachers at Fairwater High School called police on numerous occasions "expressing concern they would be assaulted, because of Ellis' aggressive and threatening manner".

The teenager was not a pupil at the school, but regularly turned up on site, abusing pupils and staff.

On one occasion he was caught by police after breaking into the school building.

Chairman of the magistrates Doiran Jones said: "Your behaviour has been absolutely atrocious.

"We have no difficulty in finding that the people of Cwmbran and surrounding area are in real need of protection from you. "As many people as possible should be made aware of our decision."