A TEENAGER dubbed the Pied Piper because of his influence over other youngsters on an estate where he was later banned was today celebrating his birthday in a secure unit.

Blackburn Magistrates sent Lee Taylor, 16 today, to Lancaster Farms juveniles detention centre after he was arrested and charged with burglary in Vernon Street, Darwen.

The court heard Vernon Street is within the area Taylor was previously banned from entering under the terms of an anti-social-behaviour order served upon him in February. The ASBO was served after magistrates heard police believed he was behind a string of crimes and the ringleader of a gang on the Ellenshaw estate.

Taylor also faces an accusation of breaching the ASBO and a previous bail condition imposed in March.

The court was told Taylor had been banned from entering Blackburn and Darwen and sent to stay in accommodation in Blackpool after a previous court appearance.

The Crown Prosecution Service made a submission for Taylor to sent into a secure unit so he could not cause any more problems until he appears before Blackburn Youth Court on Tuesday. Magistrates were told Taylor had more than 20 offences outstanding against him.

Ian Huggan, Taylor's solicitor, told the court that he felt that a place in a secure unit was unnecessary because Taylor's crimes did not suggest he was likely to cause physical harm to people.

But the magistrates told Taylor that the most recent crime he was accused of was likely to cause psychological harm to any victims.

Magistrates also took the unusual step of allowing the press to name Taylor after receiving representations from the Lancashire Evening Telegraph.

Reporter David Higgerson told the court Taylor had been named in the past and local residents wanted to know anti-social behaviour orders were being enforced.

Taylor was made the subject of the anti-social behaviour order after an application by the police, council and Twin Valley homes. Police described as the local 'pied piper' because he led other youngsters astray.