A 3ft 9in teenager, whose behaviour blighted a neighbourhood for more than three years, was handed an anti-social behaviour order — but has pledged to turn his life around.

Liam Wilkinson, 19, was the subject of numerous complaints from residents in Chorley east, which included climbing on roofs and buildings, trespassing in gardens and garages, drunkenness and throwing stones and eggs.

Under the terms of an interim ASBO issued on December 17 by Chorley magistrates, Wilkinson, of Pennine Road, was banned from entering the area bordered by Brooke Street, Stump Lane, the town-centre bypass and the M61.

However, after negotiations between police and Wilkinson’s solicitor, that restriction was lifted today and replaced with one forbidding him from associating with six named individuals.

Defending Wilkinson, David Edwards said: “We hear all the time about serious crime like heroin addiction, knife crime and mugging old ladies on the streets.

“He has done nothing like that. He admits that once he is in a group of youths he is a nuisance on the streets of Chorley.

“The coverage of his case in the press has brought home to him his foolish behaviour and he’s decided enough is enough.

“He wants to turn the corner and expects custody if he breaks the terms of the order.”

Among the terms of the ASBO, which runs for two years, Wilkinson is forbidden throughout the borough of Chorley from:

* Being drunk or being in possession of any open container of alcohol in any public street or open space
* Entering or loitering on any area of any private domestic dwelling property, including gardens, unless invited to do so by the occupant
* Throwing any object, including stones and eggs in such a way as to cause damage, alarm, harassment or distress
* Associating with the following individuals: John Nathan Kemp, Leon Kemp, Jordan Kemp, Damon Holding, Andrew Lythgoe and Jack Nelson.

After the case, Police Constable Gavin Daw, said that the order restricting Wilkinson’s behaviour followed numerous complaints from residents during a three-year period.

He said: “Our feedback from numerous residents is that he has affected their lives and been trouble to them.

"We received complaints on a weekly basis. We acknowledge that he wants to change and feel the strict guidelines drawn up between the police and Chorley Council in this order are the best way for him to achieve that.”

The case today attracted a lot of media attention, including a crew from Australia’s Channel Nine.