A TEENAGE nuisance nicknamed the Pied Piper because of his unruly influence on youngsters was today told to grow up after starting adult life behind bars.

Lee Taylor appeared before Blackburn magistrates on his 18th birthday after assaulting a mother who was carrying her young child and fighting with her 14-year-old son.

Taylor, who also spent his 16th birthday in a secure unit, was dubbed the Pied Piper of Darwen after police claimed he led other youngsters on the Ellenshaw Estate in Darwen astray.

His solicitor admitted he had a string of convictions and in February 2002 he was one of the first people in Blackburn and Darwen to be made subject to an anti-social behaviour order, banning him from the estate.

Today Sudell ward councillor Eileen Entwistle said: "I am sad to see any young person getting into trouble because people do make mistakes when they are young but some people don't seem to learn.

"I just hope that he learns from his mistakes and now that he is 18 and officially an adult he will grow up.

"He is now old enough to go to prison which will be different from the secure units he's been in before. I hope he uses his time in custody wisely and thinks about what he has done.

"People are entitled to peace and safety in their own home and if they haven't got that, something has to be done, as it was in his case.

"You can't keep giving people chance after chance, it has to come to an end at some point."

Blackburn magistrates remanded Taylor, of Hacking Street, Darwen, in custody until May 6.

He pleaded guilty to assaulting Lynda Posteraro and using threatening behaviour and the case was adjourned for the preparation of pre-sentence reports.

The court was told that at about 6.45pm on Sunday, Mrs Posteraro was visiting a friend in Crewdson Street, in the Livesey Fold area of Darwen, and her 14-year-old son Antonio and his seven-year-old sister were waiting in the car outside. Taylor approached the car, stared at the girl and then, for no apparent reason, headbutted the window.

Lisa Worsley, prosecuting, said: "His sister started crying so Antonio took her inside to find their mother. She came out of the house with the children and carrying her three-year-old son in her arms.

"Taylor swung her round with such force, she and her child fell into the middle of the road. The little girl ran back into the house and Antonio bravely went to assist his mum, shouting at Taylor to leave her alone."

Antonio and Taylor then started fighting. The fight was broken up by three men but after the Posteraro family had all gone into the house, Taylor went to the door and started to kick it.

Ian Huggan, defending, said Taylor had been drinking and could not remember a lot of what happened.

He said Taylor's problems went back over a number of years and he had been placed in care from an early age.

Mr Huggan said: "He is currently attending Blackburn College doing a brick-laying course and he says that his life has improved. He does feel that on occasions the police have victimised him."