GANGS of drunken teenagers who hang around streets and intimidate the public were yesterday given a stark warning by one of the region's most senior judges.

The Recorder of Middlesbrough, Judge Peter Fox, locked up five friends who were part of a rioting mob that smashed up a Chinese take-away and assaulted the owners.

Judge Fox's hard-line approach was welcomed last night as a warning to abusive and violent teens who gather in large numbers.

It came on the day that the pioneer of zero tolerance policing in the UK warned in The Northern Echo that yobs would soon seize control of the streets unless drastic action was taken.

Ray Mallon, the former head of CID in Middlesbrough and now mayor of the town, said: "Anti-social behaviour is now at epidemic proportions, and if the Government doesn't get a grip of it, we are heading for real problems."

Prime Minister Tony Blair is today expected to use his keynote speech at the Labour Party conference to say that it is time to tackle anti-social behaviour.

On his return from his summer holiday, he said that tackling yobs would be one of the priorities of his fourth term.

In court yesterday, the youths - some still at school at the time of the attack - looked stunned when the judge told them: "You are all going to detention."

Teesside Crown Court heard how some of the youngsters had been drinking heavily before trouble broke out at a precinct in Stockton, on a Friday night in January.

Martina Connolly, prosecuting, said the attack on The Lucky Garden, at the Elm Tree Centre, came at the end of a four-month ordeal for owners Linon and Ailing Lee.

After a relatively trouble-free 14 years at the centre, Mr and Mrs Lee and their customers endured almost nightly taunts and abuse from youths who gathered outside the shop from last October.

On January 14, as many as 50 young people congregated outside the take-away and bothered staff by continually going in and out, and banging and kicking the windows.

Miss Connolly said Mr Lee was called from the kitchen by his wife to ask the gang to stop, but his arrival - carrying a knife he had been using to prepare food - sparked a disturbance involving about 15 youngsters.

Michael Hancock, 16, who had drunk two-and-a-half litres of cider and told police he was "totally mortal drunk" rushed past Mr Lee and said: "Haway then, let's torture the Chinkies."

Other members of the gang attacked the couple - leaving them with cuts and bruises - and damaged windows, furniture and equipment.

Hancock, of Midfield View, Lianne Wilcock, 15, of Hamilton Road, Adeem Khan, 16, of Rydal Road, and James Parker, 16, of Castlereigh Road, all Stockton, were given four-month detention and training orders after admitting violent disorder.

Daniel Brown, 18, of Lowick Close, who also admitted the charge, was given a heavier sentence of six months in a young offenders' institution because of his age.

Ten others were given police reprimands.

Judge Fox told the five in the dock: "When you are sober, you are decent young persons. Word must go out to your contemporaries - other teenagers - that this sort of behaviour will not be tolerated by the courts, and people like Mr and Mrs Lee will be protected.

"Youngsters like you who drink far too much then become violent and cause such damage have got to learn that there are choices and consequences.

"You chose to get drunk, you chose to be kicking, screaming and shouting, abusive and violent, and you and others must know what follows. It's as simple as that."

Sergeant Colin Whitfield, of Cleveland Police, said "These are substantial sentences for what was a shocking attack. The judge has shown that anti-social behaviour by gangs of youths will not be tolerated."

Warren Greer, for Hancock, said: "He accepts he was the catalyst for the escalation of this offence, and he is totally appalled by his behaviour."

Stephen Constantine, for Khan, who wants to join the Army, said his client was trying to rescue Hancock and had not struck anyone. The others were said to be shocked and ashamed by their actions.