The Somerset County Gazette has successfully fought off an attempt to ban it identifying a 17-year-old gang leader given an anti-social behaviour order.

The victory for press freedom was a case of third time lucky for the Taunton-based Newsquest title.

The newspaper has previously failed to stop court orders banning identification of a 13-year-old joyrider who caused the death of a pensioner – and a 17-year-old girl given an ASBO for being drunk and disorderly.

But in the latest case, heard at Taunton Deane Youth Court, County Gazette reporter Dave Shuttleworth (left) addressed the bench, defending the newspaper’s right to name-and-shame the teen tearaway, described by the prosecution as “probably the single biggest cause of anti-social behaviour in the Taunton area”.

He carried a baseball bat as the self-styled “Governor” of the Taunton housing estate where he terrorised residents for two years.

While the two-year ASBO went unchallenged, his defence solicitor requested a section 39 order be imposed on the press to protect his identity.

Magistrates refused the application after the County Gazette agreed not to publish the offender’s full address and was given the support of Avon and Somerset Police’s Inspector Mike Ashwin in court.

Gazette editor-in-chief, Ken Bird said: “Having been gagged twice by the youth court in the recent past, it is very satisfying to be able to name and shame.

“This teenager is notorious in Taunton, where residents have been living in fear of him and his gang of thugs for too long. Now his reign of terror is over.

“My reporters are more used to reporting speeches made in court than delivering them, but Dave Shuttleworth did us proud with an impassioned plea for press freedom and public interest.

“We have worked closely with the Crown Prosecution Service and police on this case and that co-operation has paid off with a cracking story.”

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