A MAN behind a four-month "reign of terror" has been banned from entering part of a housing estate for two years.

Magistrates yesterday imposed an anti-social behaviour order (Asbo) on 20-year-old Derek Lee following a string of incidents, including burglary, shoplifting and assault in the Delves Lane area of Consett.

Durham Constabulary applied for the order, saying that Lee, who lives in Lea Side, Delves Lane, was making the lives of local residents a misery.

The terms of the order prohibit the 20-year-old from entering Briardale - the area's main street - and also from damaging or interfering with property, drinking in public and trespassing on private grounds.

If Lee breaches the order, he could be sent to prison.

Magistrates sitting at Durham City heard that, in January, Lee damaged the window of Lloyds Pharmacy in Station Road, Consett, and, on the same day, carried out a violent assault on a man from the area.

Three weeks later, he threatened to punch another Briardale resident.

In March, he stole razor blades and two dozen cans of lager from shops in Consett.

In the same month, he also assaulted a youth at Consett bus station, broke the windows of a house in Briardale and punched another resident.

In April, he thrust a pair of scissors at the chest of a man and was drunk in public at the junction of Sydney Gardens and Delves Lane.

Speaking after the hearing, Delves Lane beat officer PC Jonathan Hammill said that the order should bring about a noticeable improvement to the lives of residents.

He said: "Derek Lee has, in effect, carried out a reign of terror which has left some people scared to leave their own homes, while others have been too frightened to contact the police.

"Under our StreetSafe initiative, the force is committed to tackling anti-social behaviour and offering improved reassurance to local communities.

"The granting of the Asbo sends out a positive message that we can and will take appropriate action against those who disrupt the lives of law-abiding residents."