Members of a gang of teenage tearaways who terrorised Gloucester have been named and shamed by The Citizen after it successfully challenged reporting restrictions.

The newspaper was able to tell readers the full story of how Anti-Social Behaviour Orders had been imposed on three boys, following a plea by crime reporter Dennis Apperly.

Under the headline 'Terror Gang Teenagers Are Tamed', the paper pictured 16-year-old Kieron Clune, 17-year-old Michael Targett and 18-year-old Scott Rigby on its front page, and told how as members of a 13-strong gang they had subjected residents of Matson and Abbeydale to a catalogue of assaults, abuse and vandalsim.

Sitting at Cheltenham Magistrates Court, district judge Dudley Thomas said he had decided to allow them to be identified in the interests of the community.

He told the court: "I have decided that for the order to have any meaning and for the community to be protected, the defendants' identities should be publicised."

Editor Ian Mean applauded the decision, adding that reporter Dennis had become quite adept at challenging restrictions as many magistrates failed to understand the ASBO process.

He said: "The list of activites involving these young men is staggering.

"A phone box was smashed up and even a disabled person in a wheelchair became a victim. Then there was abusive behaviour, foul language and threatening and intimidating behaviour.

"District Judge Dudley Thomas agreed that for the ASBOs to have any meaning they should be named and shamed.

"It is a decision applauded by this newspaper. For we are determined to turn the spotlight on these young men and show them up for what they are.

"Perhaps then they might, just might, stop to consider the consequences of what they do."