A TEENAGE thug who left his schoolboy victim too afraid to go out alone was spared a prison sentence yesterday.

A restraining order was imposed on Daniel John Butler, 19, on February 12, banning him from all contact with the teenager - but he breached the order in less than 24 hours.

Stephanie Waite, prosecuting, told Harrogate magistrates that on the night of the breach, Butler, 19, who had been sent a series of nuisance text messages, had twiced followed the youth as he walked in the city's market square and in North Street.

Butler, of Aismunderby Road, Ripon, followed him into a shop in the market square where he squared up with the youngster and twice threatened to "smash his face in", before suggesting they "sort everything out" in an alleyway.

"Don't think I am waiting 12 months for you," Butler told the boy - a reference to a conditional discharge he had been given when the restraint order was made.

The court was told that Butler remembered nothing of the incident, telling police he and five friends had drunk three crates of lager between them.

Butler pleaded guilty to breaching the restraining order.

Clive Farndon, mitigating, said Butler appreciated his position, but said there had been no further incidents.

Court chairman John Carter put Butler on probation for a year and told him the restraining order would remain in force.

He was also ordered to observe an 8pm to 6am curfew on Fridays, Saturdays and Sundays for the next 30 days, and was told to pay costs of £60.