A TINY terror with an "angelic" face who plagued residents for years has turned over a new leaf.

Details of the change in Aaron Stoddard's behaviour were revealed when Hyndburn magistrates were asked to drop an application for an Anti Social Behaviour Order to curb his actions.

Today residents in the Spring Hill area of Accrington said "good riddance" to the 15-year-old former tiny terror. Stoddard plagued residents in the area with unruly behaviour for years and magistrates slapped a temporary anti-social behaviour order (ASBO) on him in February.

In March after further reports of him terrorising people even though he had moved to Haslingden, a ban on him entering parts of Church was extended to include much of Accrington town centre.

The order was imposed after magistrates heard he had threatened to mow people down on the pavement with his motorised scooter.

Yesterday Hyndburn Council said it had been so successful they had decided to withdraw their application for a full ASBO.

Inspector Phil Cottam, Accrington's police commander, said the temporary order had done its job in curtailing the 15-year-old's behaviour.

He added the teenager, who stands just 4ft 11ins, had not caused any problems in Haslingden, where he now lives.

Kenneth Street, of Ashley Court, off Spring Street, said: "Good riddance. He's made people's lives a misery, I'm glad he's gone."

Springhill ward councillor Edith Dunston also welcomed the news.

"Aaron Stoddard has been a thorn in the flesh around Spring Hill for years. He looks such an angelic lad but he's really uncontrollable and takes great pleasure in anti-social behaviour.

"But it's great news the order has worked to a certain extent.

"I'm all in favour of these orders, it will follow him around. The council has an obligation to inform the authorities wherever he goes.

"It's a good restraining order on him, which was desperately needed round here." Inspector Cottam said: "With the family having moved out of the area it was felt, after consulting with the other agencies involved, that the interim order had fulfilled the purpose for which we wanted it."

The teenager could find himself back in court quickly if he goes back to his old, nasty ways