A teenager who committed numerous offences across the city has been given an Asbo to try to curb his out-of-control behaviour.

The 15-year-old, from Hove, committed 15 counts of criminal damage in the past 15 months and police and Brighton and Hove City Council were so concerned they asked magistrates to impose strict conditions on the youngster.

However, members of the public - who the order is supposed to protect - will be unable to identify the teenager if he does break any of the requirements because magistrates imposed reporting restrictions banning The Argus from publishing anything which could lead to his identification.

Although a reporter from The Argus asked to be able to challenge the order at Brighton and Hove Magistrates' Court yesterday, the magistrates were advised not to hear it by the court's clerk, Catherine Plank, who said she believed The Argus had objected to the order at a previous hearing.

Rejecting the application, magistrate Dr Howard Carter said: "The bench is satisfied that this decision has previously been challenged and if we were to revisit it today it would be going against our colleagues' decision and would be, in effect, hearing a defence appeal."

The boy was given a two-year Asbo, which prohibits him from causing harassment, alarm or distress to the public, remaining in any place when asked to leave by a person authorised to do so, or returning or going to any place he is barred from.

Simon Court, prosecuting on behalf of the council, told the court the boy had damaged vehicles and houses, attacked a man and caused damage to a police cell.

He said: "Clearly, despite the court's interventions, this is a young man who feels boundaries do not apply to him."

The Asbo orders the boy not to be in any public place between 10pm and 6am without one of his parents or a council employee.

The order applies for six months. It also prohibits him from damaging, taking or interfering with property belonging to others and from having alcohol or being drunk in a public place.

Josie Rankin, defending, said the boy suffered from attention-deficit hyperactivity disorder but had recently started taking the correct amount of medication.

She added it had been four months since his last offence and that he had changed his behaviour.

Ordering the Asbo, Dr Carter said: "We hope not to see you again.

We have heard very positive things about you today and we are pleased to hear those comments that have been made on your behalf."

The boy's mother was also given a six-month parenting order.

Speaking after the case, Simon Westrop, head of legal at The Argus's parent company Newsquest, said: "There's absolutely no reason why the court cannot accept representations in relation to an order at any time."

Do you think Asbos are working to stamp out antisocial behaviour?