A TEENAGER made the subject of Britain's toughest anti-social behaviour order was facing another court appearance last night, after he was arrested for allegedly breaching its stringent conditions.

Police in Darlington yesterday detained 14-year-old Shane Preston - only days after council chiefs named and shamed him in a controversial publicity campaign.

Last Friday, The Northern Echo revealed how Darlington Borough Council had distributed hundreds of leaflets to households on the Skerne Park estate.

It advised them that Shane was banned from the estate for an unprecedented four years.

The leaflet declared that the ban, imposed last month by Bishop Auckland magistrates, was in force and told residents: "Your streets are safer".

But his mother, Paula Preston, hit out at the council's action, saying it was making Shane a scapegoat for the estate's troubles and that he was being "punished twice".

Yesterday morning, police were called to Beaumont Hill School, after allegations that Shane was being threatening and abusive towards staff and pupils. He was taken to Darlington police station and later charged with breaching the conditions of the order.

A police spokesman said: "He was released on bail pending the completion of the evidence gathering process. He will appear at Darlington Youth Court on Friday.

Both the Home Office and Darlington MP Alan Milburn, Labour's new policy supremo and a keen supporter of behaviour orders (Asbos), backed the council's publicity campaign.

The order banned Shane from setting foot in Skerne Park. It also prohibits him from:

l Carrying out assaults, harassment or intimidation;

l Taking or interfering with property or riding motorcycles;

l Kicking or throwing footballs against any property or vehicle;

l Disrupting classes at school.

A curfew preventing him from going out between 9pm and 7am is also in force.

Last night, borough council leader John Williams said: "It is regrettable that the Asbo has allegedly been breached.

"If it has, that fully vindicates the council's action last week to safeguard the Skerne Park community by publicising details of this youth and the conditions of his Asbo."