A BOY of 17 who terrorised an estate with his abusive behaviour and shoplifting activities has been banned from entering the area.

Darren Taylor, now of Maidstone Road, Chatham, will not be able to set foot in the shopping and residential area of Park Wood, Maidstone, for the next two years after he was given an Anti Social Behaviour Order by Maidstone magistrates.

Despite his age he has already been arrested 90 times. In the last year alone he has been arrested 29 times.

He has 26 previous convictions for 35 offences, 29 of which were committed while he was on bail for other crimes.

The order also prevents Taylor from purchasing or consuming alcohol in licensed premises or drinking alcohol or being drunk in a public place anywhere in Maidstone and Malling and from using threatening or abusive behaviour.

If he breaches the order he could be imprisoned for up to five years.

Maidstone and Malling Area Commander, Supt Mark Salisbury said: "One of the police’s main functions is to protect the community from prolific offenders and bring them to justice.

"My staff have worked extremely hard in securing this order which will make a significant difference to people’s quality of life, especially in the Park Wood area. I hope that Mr Taylor finally takes advantage of the help that has been offered him in the past."

Alan Newman, the police’s joint family management officer who prepared the application said: "This is a very encouraging result and shows we will not tolerate antisocial behaviour.

"I am particularly pleased that we have achieved exclusion from the Park Wood area, as this location tended to be the centre of his offending."