A MUM whose son was one of the first teenagers given an anti-social behaviour order today claimed it had prevented him rebuilding his life.

But the police officer in charge of Darwen said the public needed protecting from Lee Taylor, nicknamed the 'Pied Piper' because he is said to lead youngsters astray.

Taylor, 18, of Hacking Street, Darwen, faces court on May 6 when police try to have a second ASBO imposed on him after he admitted assaulting a woman and using threatening behaviour last week.

The first ASBO, granted two years, expired in February.

It banned him from the Ellenshaw estate, prevented him from speaking to anyone in the area under 16 and subjected him to a night curfew.

ASBOs are often intended to attract a great deal of publicity so everyone in the community knows what action has been taken.

But Mrs Taylor, 38, who did not want her first name revealing because she said she would be associated with her son's reputation to the wider community, said: "There are lots of other boys of his age in Darwen who have records like his but don't get the ASBO.

"I am not saying he does not have a bad record, but I feel he has improved a lot in nine months.

"He is doing a brick-laying course at Blackburn College, but it is hard for him to stay on the straight and narrow.

"He has been filling in application forms everywhere for jobs but everyone knows of him because of the 'Pied Piper'.

"He was one of the first to be given an ASBO and has suffered because of that. Wherever he goes police officers come up to him.

"Everybody deserves a second chance, regardless of their background. I am not against the police, but they are against Lee Taylor."

But Insp Graham Ashcroft, of Darwen police, said: "We feel the public need protecting from Lee Taylor and that is the reason why we are seeking the second ASBO."