By Lisa CleverdonA NAME-AND-SHAME campaign has been launched against a teenager who terrorised a housing estate.Hundreds of leaflets were dropped through letterboxes in Great Cornard yesterday urging residents to report 19-year-old Karl Roberts if he breaches an anti-social behaviour order (Asbo).

By Lisa Cleverdon

A NAME-AND-SHAME campaign has been launched against a teenager who terrorised a housing estate.

Hundreds of leaflets were dropped through letterboxes in Great Cornard yesterday urging residents to report 19-year-old Karl Roberts if he breaches an anti-social behaviour order (Asbo).

The publicity was organised by Babergh District Council and is believed to be the first time any local authority in Suffolk has taken such measures to ensure the conditions of an Asbo were met.

Roberts, who used to live in Great Cornard but now lives on a caravan site in Stowmarket, plagued residents with his anti-social behaviour, which included verbal abuse, harassment, and intimidation.

Magistrates in Bury St Edmunds issued the teenager with a three-year Asbo last week and warned him he could face up to five years in prison if he flouted it.

The A4 fliers, 500 of which were distributed yesterday, feature a picture of the 19-year-old and outline the conditions of his order, which include being forbidden from using threatening or abusive or insulting behaviour, placing other people in fear of their safety, and entering an area of Great Cornard including Poplar Road, Pot Kiln Road and Shawlands.

Sue Carpendale, chairman of Babergh District Council's strategy committee, said: “Babergh is actively working with other bodies, including the police, to improve the safety of our residents.

“In certain cases, in order to protect both individuals and the wider community, we will apply for an Asbo.

“It is important that the local community is aware of the contents of any Asbo so that they can inform the appropriate authorities if the provisions are breached. That is why Babergh has taken this step of publicising the conditions of Karl Roberts' Asbo.”

The leaflet gives residents a choice of telephone numbers to call if they saw Roberts in the excluded area or if he breached any other of his bans, which apply throughout England and Wales.

Asbos, which can be applied for by the police or a local authority, can be handed to anyone over the age of 10 who causes distress to someone outside of his or her family home.

A Home Office spokesman said: “We have issued guidelines on Asbos that are there for councils to use.

“Publicity and proper enforcement is essential if communities are to support local agencies in the tackling of Asbo breaches, as well as serving to inform people that something is being done.

“People who perpetrate anti-social behaviour should be aware that their actions are going to result in some publicity. This is part of the deterrent process and helps to ensure that these measures are put in place.”

lisa.cleverdon@eadt.co.uk