A 12-YEAR-old boy who has contributed to almost a quarter of Nelson's crime during recent years has been served with an anti-social behaviour order for two years.

Sean O'Callaghan, of Nelson, was described as a 'prolific offender' and 'ringleader' of a gang of youths responsible for around nearly 25 per cent of the crime, disorder and anti-social behaviour occurring in Nelson.

The boy was one of five youths, who between them committed more than 300 offences in two years, to be served with an interim ASBO in December last year.

He appeared before a panel of magistrates yesterday in Burnley to receive a full ASBO which prevents him from:

Causing alarm, harassment or distress to any person

Inciting or encouraging any other person to engage in anti-social behaviour

Throwing any objects at any person, animal, property or building

Causing physical harm, assaulting, abusing or threatening or intimidating any person

Causing damage to or attempting to cause damage to any property

Stealing or attempting to steal or allowing himself to be driven or carried in a stolen vehicle

Associating in a group numbering greater than five people in public

Associating or being in the company of William Penman, Stephen Kennedy and Lee Nolan.

PC Karen Fitzpatrick, of the Pendle Crime and Disorder Reduction Partnership, said: "I would place Sean as the ringleader of the original group of five. My experience is that Sean's association with certain friends causes a greater problem in that when they are together their pattern of behaviour as a group causes great concern for us in our role of looking after the community in Pendle.

"It is clear from previous evidence that when they are together they behaviour is anti-social a lot of the time.".

Inspector Paul Robinson, for Nelson and Brierfield, said: "A pattern of anti-social behaviour has emerged, creating a swathe across the area, known as Southfield and Marsden to Leeds Road and Bradley.

"An all too common a theme from members of the public and from officers has indicated the presence of Sean and his compatriots being involved in or in the vicinity of the disturbances.

"My view is that if Sean is allowed to come back into the Pendle area under no form of constraint then it is a certainty that crime and anti-social behaviour will occur and Sean will be in the midst of that."

Brian Irlam, defending, said Sean's behaviour had improved and from February this year, for a period of three months, he had maintained exemplary behaviour.

He said: "The making of an anti-social behaviour order is not necessary. While I am very conscious that Pendle Borough Council and the public are protected generally there is nothing in the recent history of Sean's behaviour that shows there is a need to make an order of this sort."