An identification ban on a 17-year-old, who was in court after a spree of violent and intimidating behaviour, was lifted at the request of the Evening Gazette on Teesside.

The judge at Teesside Magistrates Court agreed that naming the youth - who is 18 next month - would be in the public interest.

The paper's request was backed by Middlesbrough Council, which applied for anti-social behaviour orders on three teenagers, two of whom were 18 and could be identified for their part in the trouble.

Editor Steve Dyson said that his newspaper would continue to support anti-social behaviour orders.

He said: "These are tough, uncompromising measures. But for those who will not listen to reason they are, sadly, necessary. And we must make the fullest use of them. This newspaper will continue to support ASBOs."

In an editorial opinion column, titled "We must get tough to win a bit of peace", he also asked readers to support the courts by reporting any breaches to "beat the bullies".

The trio were reported to the authorities after residents witnessed members of a gang smashing windows, setting fire to hedges, daubing graffiti, congregating and using threatening and intimidating behaviour.

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