A TEENAGER has admitted swearing at a neighbour, breaching an anti-social behaviour order imposed 15 months ago.

The 17-year-old, who cannot be named, appeared before magistrates in Newton Aycliffe yesterday.

The court heard that a neighbour had been riding her horse in Ferryhill Station on January 27 this year when she heard a loud banging coming from a nearby street.

She saw the youth holding a piece of wood and standing next to a white van. When she told him to take it easy, he swore at her.

Helen Waite, defending, said the youth had been banging on his own van after having a "bad morning" because a friend had smoked all his cigarettes.

She said he accepted that he had been abusive towards the neighbour at one point, breaching one of the terms of his order. But she said that the neighbour "had not behaved as she ought to have done towards him".

The case was adjourned until Monday, April 22, for pre-sentence reports to be prepared.

The youth was also charged with a number of offences alleged to have been committed on February 8.

He denied charges of dangerous driving and damaging a fence, but admitted failing to stop and failing to give his name and address, driving without a licence and driving without insurance.

The matters were also adjourned until April 22 for a pre-trial review.