A teenager who abused neighbours and committed acts of vandalism has been placed under an anti-social behaviour order.

Chris Winnan, 13, was involved in attacks on a bus driver, teacher and police officer, a court heard.

He was abusive and showed threatening behaviour towards estate residents and made a racial attack on a foreign student.

Brighton magistrates heard how he was part of a gang which intimidated people with baseball bats and a stick with nails in it.

The teenager, of Goodwood Way, Moulsecoomb, Brighton, appeared in court with his mother Wendy Winnan by his side yesterday.

Magistrate Joanna Earl (MRS) made the order (ASBO), to last until he turns 18 because his behaviour "caused or was likely to cause alarm, distress or harassment".

She added: "However, we feel Wendy Winnan has done her very best to cope with an extremely difficult situation for many years."

She urged more support to be made available to the family.

Defence solicitor Mike Tyler argued the boy had special needs, which would only be exacerbated by the order.

Giving evidence, Dr Adam Abdelnoor said: "Chris has had special educational needs for most of his school life, since he was eight.

"He has anxiety, a tendency to get depressed and is impulsive."

His mother described how her son had been an emotional child since he was little. She said: "He had tantrums up until he was about 11 where he would smash the house up"

She said she had begged for help from social services but all she got was eight sessions to prove she was a good parent.

The court heard he did not attend school for two years and was excluded on several occasions. Now he has two hours' tuition a week at Queensdown Special School in Moulsecoomb, Brighton.

Harriet Townsend, for the prosecution, argued an ASBO was the only way to prevent further anti-social behaviour.

She said no witnesses to the incidents were in court because they were too scared of intimidation.

Instead, police gave evidence of how he drove a motorbike at a policewoman and was involved in violence and vandalism.

After the hearing, Sergeant Tony Lumb, who is involved with the New Deal initiative in Whitehawk and Moulsecoomb, said : "We won't tolerate anti-social behaviour on the estates."