TWO teenagers with anti-social behaviour orders (ASBOs) were described by a prosecuting solicitor as persistent young offenders. The boys, aged 16 and 17, who cannot be named for legal reasons, both appeared at North Herts Youth Court yesterday (Wednesday

TWO teenagers with anti-social behaviour orders (ASBOs) were described by a prosecuting solicitor as persistent young offenders.

The boys, aged 16 and 17, who cannot be named for legal reasons, both appeared at North Herts Youth Court yesterday (Wednesday) charged with a series of offences.

The 17-year-old, from Letchworth GC, pleaded guilty to burglary and two breaches of his ASBO involving consuming alcohol in a public place and foul and abusive language.

He also pleaded guilty to failing to surrender to bail and taking a vehicle without the owner's consent.

The 16-year-old, from Baldock, pleaded guilty to burglary, theft from a shop and failing to surrender to a custody order.

The court heard from Lorraine Telford, prosecuting, that both youths had gone to the rear of the Tesco store in Baldock on June 18 and stolen six crates of lager worth £49.

They were later identified by police from CCTV pictures.

Eight days earlier the older youth was in West Avenue, Baldock, on a BMX bike when he rode past the cricket ground and picked up a chair and dumped it nearby.

When he was confronted by one of the players the youth is alleged to have said to him: "I have a knife in my pocket. I would not hesitate in sticking it in your gut", Mrs Telford told the court.

The youth also admitted stealing a moped and a crash helmet from outside Letchworth outdoor swimming pool. Police officers spotted the moped in the town centre and later on the playing field at Brandles School, Baldock, where the rider took his helmet off after a collision with the police vehicle and was immediately recognised by officers.

The drinking offences took place in Memorial Gardens, London Road, Baldock, when he was spotted drinking a can of lager.

Mrs Telford told magistrates the youth had been given an ASBO in March 2005 for two years with the conditions he would not consume alcohol, not use foul and abusive language and not expose his buttocks in public.

The Baldock youth, the court heard, had been spotted by security staff in April in TK-Maxx in Stevenage trying to steal goods which he later abandoned in the store when he realised he was being watched.

He later admitted stealing the beer from Tesco and failing to surrender to police custody.

"Both these young men are deemed persistent young offenders," said Mrs Telford.

John Fox, defending, said of the older boy: "He is an immature 17-year-old. There is not a bad bone in his body if you take the child out of him."

Mr Fox told magistrates: "If you send him to prison, lord knows what will happen to him."

Defending the younger teenager, Mr Fox added: "He is a likeable rogue. He was involved on the periphery of the Tesco job.

"He's been stupid but there is a ray of light at the end of the tunnel. It is not serious offending we are talking about. It is more a nuisance but he has got potential."

Chairman of the magistrates Doug Steele, though, took a tough line with the 17-year-old. He was given a six-month detention order with half of the sentence being in secure accommodation.

"This sentence is necessary because you have wilfully and persistently broken court orders," he said.

The other youth was given a supervision order for two years and a four-month curfew meaning he cannot leave his Baldock home between 8pm and 6am and must also wear an electronic tag.

He was also ordered to pay £20 compensation to Tesco and £100 costs.