A 16-YEAR-OLD boy has been banned from entering Wickford town centre after he threw a chair at takeaway staff and had a knife in his possession.

The teenager from Wickford, who cannot be named for legal reasons, admitted damaging the £22 chair, belonging to Favourite Chicken and Ribs, in Wickford’s High Street.

At a hearing at Basildon Youth Court, he further admitted possessing a lock knife during the afternoon of Sunday, January 15. The boy was arrested by special constable Robert Hill, who was only working his second shift at the time.

Mr Hill was alerted to an incident in the High Street via his radio after a teenager, who was suspected of having a knife on him, was thought to have assaulted staff inside inside a shop He said that the boy ran away from him as soon as he approached the shop. Mr Hill then gave chase and arrested him.

At the sentencing hearing, magistrates ordered him to complete an 18-month youth referral order and an 18-month education requirement. He was also ordered to pay £85 costs, £22 compensation to Favourite Chicken and a £20 victim surcharge.

He was also made the subject of a criminal behaviour order which banned him from entering Wickford town centre except in the company of a parent or family member aged over 21.

The order, which lasts for a year, also states that he cannot be disruptive, harass, intimidate or act in an antisocial manner which causes alarm or distress to residents or traders in Wickford.

Bob Fortt, Essex Police’s antisocial behaviour officer, said: “This is the first criminal behaviour order obtained for the problem youths in the Wickford area. Essex Police will continue to work closely with the local community to prosecute offenders.”

PC Marek Jaworski, from Basildon’s community policing team, added: “We have had a lot of issues in Wickford High Street over the last two months. Through investigations, we have identified him as being one of the common factors responsible for the problems.

“We have been gathering evidence to get this order with a view to stopping what he was doing.”