GRAVESHAM Council has successfully applied for its first Anti-Social Behaviour Order to be served on Stacey Law, 14, from the Waterdales estate in Northfleet. She now faces severe restrictions on her behaviour. If the order's conditions are broken, Law could face up to five years behind bars.

She was accused of racist behaviour, stone throwing, painting racist graffiti, forced entry, assault, criminal damage, threatening and abusive behaviour, and using abusive language. Her age meant Dartford magistrates could have placed an order banning any information being published that might lead to her identification.

But magistrate John Tuggey told Law: "We have considered your interests and the possible implications if we don't make such an order. But we do consider that it is in the public interest for you to be identified in the local community. In order for it (the ASBO) to be effective, the public does need to know what you can and can't do."

Law admitted she had behaved in a matter which caused, or was likely to cause, harassment, alarm or distress between January and July this year. But she denied the specific allegations.

Paul Tapsell, representing Gravesham council, said: "The order is necessary to protect people from further anti-social actions. It will last for three years. The hope of the council is that after that stage, and if there have been no further problems, she will have grown out of the period of anti-social behaviour."

Thomas Haplin, representing Law, said: "It is not Stacey who is responsible for all the problems that occur in Waterdales. There are other youths and their behaviour has not been addressed by the local authority."

Magistrates also imposed a three-month parenting order on Law's mother, Tracey Bennett, which will include counselling and guidance. Mrs Bennett, who is a single parent, stressed to the Gravesend Messenger newspaper that her daughter was not the only young offender in Waterdales. But she admitted the Anti-Social Behaviour Order could give her a fresh start.