A TEENAGE tearaway who had an interim anti-social behaviour order imposed on him last month has now been barred from a bigger part of Accrington.

Police say Aaron Stoddard is still terrorising people in Accrington and Church even though he has moved out of the area.

A hearing to determine whether to impose a full order is set for Wednesday, April 9, but police went back to court to ask for the extension on the town centre ban.

Inspector Phil Cottam, Accrington's police commander, said the 15-year-old had been arrested twice since the interim order was put in place.

Magistrates agreed to extend the exclusion zone to include an area from Market Street, Church, to Eagle Street, and from Blackburn Road down to Slaidburn Drive, Accrington. He is already banned from a small area of Church.

Insp Cottam said: "We take it as very important that where there are anti-social behaviour problems residents should be properly protected.

"That's the reason this application has been made to vary this order -- on the basis of the fact we have evidence to suggest he is still frequenting other areas of Accrington.

"We would seek to ensure we are not waiting until individual members of the public are subjected to anti-social behaviour. We want to make sure it doesn't happen in the first place."

Magistrates heard last month that Stoddard, formerly of Spring Street, Accrington, who stands just 4ft 11ins, had threatened to mow down old people on pavements with a motorised scooter. He was also abusive to residents, the court was told. A curfew imposed as part of the order was lifted because he has moved out of the borough.

Last week Hyndburn Council announced it was appointing an anti-social behaviour officer to draw up a strategy for dealing with people like Stoddard.

The government also announced £80 on the spot fines for people as young as 16 involved in anti-social behaviour.

Coun Jean Battle, acting leader for Hyndburn Borough Council, said: "This boy is a menace to society. He obviously needs some sort of help one way or another but he has caused a lot of problems and needs dealing with.

"It is a good thing that the extension on his ban has been extended as they need to come down hard on him.

"Hopefully this will also send out a message to others."