A TEENAGER who caused thousands of pounds of damage in a North-East village has been placed under an anti-social behaviour order (Asbo).

William Airey, 17, of North View, Swalwell, Gateshead, pleaded guilty to three charges of criminal damage.

He asked magistrates in Gateshead to take six other offences into consideration.

The court heard that, over a three-month period, Airey indiscriminately kicked and smashed the windows of businesses in St Mary's Green, Whickham.

PCs Gillian Timm and Don Mcleod took part in a operation to trace him.

PC Timm said: "A member of the team saw Airey run past a shop, kicking two of the windows out. Overall, the cost of the damage ran into thousands of pounds.

"Hopefully, the sentence handed out by the court will serve as a warning to anyone else considering acting in an anti-social manner.

"Shopkeepers in the area have told me how they are really pleased with the outcome following the problems and expense they had."

The bench handed Airey a two-year Asbo, as well as an exclusion order banning him from the St Mary's Green, Front Street, Chase Park and King George Playing Fields areas of Whickham.

He was also given a reparation and supervisory order, and banned from consuming alcohol in a public place and inciting others to act in an anti-social way.