Asbo teenager sits it out as penalty

Published on Thursday 14 August 2008 10:36

THIS is Edinburgh's latest Asbo teenager Daniel Baird enjoying the new limits of his freedom after being banned from most of his neighbourhood.

The 16-year-old has been ordered not to enter a dozen streets around his home after being accused of terrorising neighbours.

The exclusion zone leaves him only a narrow route to and from his family's bungalow in Bingham Way. And yesterday he was sitting on a chair on the strip of pavement he is allowed on, waiting for his friends to turn up.

Baird was served with an Asbo after being accused of fighting, threatening neighbours and leaving drug paraphernalia in common stairs. Neighbours today described him as a "menace" and the worst of a gang of youths accused of running amok in the area.

The Asbo was served after Baird signed and broke four acceptable behaviour contracts between 2005 and last year.

It was granted after Edinburgh Sheriff Court heard complaints about him shouting, swearing, drinking, singing, smashing bottles, and urinating in public.

One resident said: "He's a menace and definitely the worst of the kids causing bother around here. I'm glad he's got an Asbo and he seems to be sticking to it for now, sitting out on his chair for his friends to come and see him. I hope it lasts, but I'm not sure."

Baird's mother told the Evening News neither she nor her son wanted to talk about the Asbo.

Baird is the second teenager from the Bingham area to be hit with an exclusion zone this year, following Alexander Forbes, 16, who received his Asbo in May.

The city's community safety leader councillor, Paul Edie, said: "Behaviour of this nature is totally unacceptable and will not be tolerated. We have made every effort to persuade this individual to change his behaviour, using ABCs because of his young age and offering assistance and support on numerous occasions. However, since he has chosen to disregard all support offered to him, we had no choice but to seek an Asbo against him."

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