A TEENAGER from hell has become the first youth in the New Forest to be locked up for flouting an antisocial behaviour order (ASBO) - but we can't tell you who he is.

The youth has been sent to a young offenders' institution for four months after continuing to make life a misery for residents in the Hythe area.

However, despite guidance from Home Secretary David Blunkett, magistrates have allowed him to hide behind anonymity laws.

The government believes youngsters who terrorise local communities should be named and shamed, but magistrates have refused to lift restrictions which meant the youngster could be named.

He was made the subject of an ASBO last year for setting fire to cars, causing criminal damage and harassing residents.

Now the out-of-control teenager has been locked up after magistrates heard he had consistently breached the order by causing harassment, alarm and distress and entering an exclusion zone at Forest Front, Hythe.

Today a Forest Front resident said he was delighted that at least one young thug in the parish had been dealt with.

The householder, who asked not be named for fear of reprisals, said: "This area is often hell, with motorbikes flying around all over the place. We have also suffered broken windows and smashed windscreens as well as cars being dumped in the area and then set on fire.

"On one occasion two young lads with air rifles were shooting at ducks on a pond in the reserve."

Stephanie Sutton, New Forest Council's community safety officer, praised people for coming forward with vital evidence.

She said: "I would like to thank them for helping us put the ASBO together and for helping us to police it.

"Local communities can assist the council by reporting antisocial behaviour and nuisance crimes to the police, who work in partnership with the council."

ASBOs are civil orders used by the local authorities and the police to crack down on serial troublemakers. They include conditions prohibiting the offender from entering defined areas or committing specific antisocial acts.

Breaching an ASBO is a criminal offence and adults who do so can be jailed for up to five years.

Supt Barry Talbot, head of New Forest police, said: "ASBOs can be a very effective tool to help combat nuisance behaviour and can make a real difference to local communities and people's lives."

Goff Beck, the council's Cabinet member for law and order, welcomed the decision to send the Hythe teenager to a young offenders' institution.

He said: "This should send a message to others that this type of behaviour is not acceptable, nor will it be tolerated.

"This youth caused a lot of distress to residents in Hythe and hopefully the ruling will improve the quality of life for people living in the area."

Two years ago a teenager from Southampton became the first youth in the city to be locked up for breaching an ASBO.

The 16-year-old was sent to a young offenders' institution for eight months after breaching his ASBO by riding a moped without a licence.