A WOMAN who set up her own CCTV system helped catch a juvenile nuisance.

A youths was convicted of public order offences after police viewed footage taken on Gillian Wolstencroft's camera.

Blackburn magistrates were told she installed a CCTV camera at her home because of problems with juvenile nuisance in the Stansfeld Street area of Blackburn.

The spy camera came to the rescue when a neighbour was confronted by two teenagers who became abusive and threatening.

Paul Anthony Grunshaw, 18, of Shakespeare Way, Blackburn admitted a breach of the peace and was bound over by Blackburn Magistrates to keep the peace for 12 months. Margaret Duckworth, prosecuting said Grunshaw and a number of other youngsters were posing particular problems for residents in the Stansfeld Street area and there had been numerous complaints to the police.

On Saturday at 8.45pm, Mrs Wolstencroft, of Wellington Road was watching the CCTV system she had installed when she saw Grunshaw and another youth in the school yard opposite her house.

They were both shouting abuse as Mrs Wolstencroft watched a neighbour come out of her house and ask what they were up to. "They both squared up to the neighbour and started shouting and swearing at her," said Mrs Duckworth. "The neighbour started crying and at that point, Mrs Wolstencroft and her husband went out and confronted them. Grunshaw told them that if they went out he would put their windows in."

Roger Pickles, defending said that Grunshaw had a different recollection of events, but accepted that his language was out of order.

"He has spent Saturday and Sunday night in the cells and now realises that unruly behaviour will not be tolerated by residents, the police or the courts," said Mr Pickles. He said Grunshaw is employed full time as a landscape gardener and as a result of his arrest had missed work on Sunday and would be late on Monday following his court appearance.

"He realises that his behaviour is now affecting him, as well as other people," said Mr Pickles.

Last week residents on Smalley Way in Blackburn protested about a similar camera installed by Danny Thompson.

A spokesman for Blackburn CID said: "These type of cameras are quite common and this type of footage has been used in the past to secure a conviction.

"If people want to protect their property and are working within the law, then there is absolutely no problem with it."