A district judge has backed an evening newspaper’s bid to name a 16-year-old with 96 convictions.

The youngster was in court for committing offences while under an anti-social behaviour order.

When he was served with the order in December 1999, aged 14, the Nottingham Evening Post was unable to name him.

But by getting the restrictions lifted, the paper has ensured he will not be able to use his juvenile status to avoid being named.

In its submission to District Judge Bruce Morgan, the Post argued that the youth’s offending was both “persistent and serious” and that the public should be aware of his anti-social behaviour.

The judge agreed and it was the second time the Post had obtained the right to name him.

Mr Morgan said: “Society should know when an ASBO is being made and when it is being breached. Why shouldn’t they know who are the troublemakers in their midsts?”

He was in court after a fracas involving the police outside a pub where he tried to hit an officer with a whisky glass.

He had breached the ASBO 17 times in two years and over the years had been in trouble tor vandalism, abusiveness, shoplifting, robbery, car theft, driving while disqualified and carrying an offensive weapon, as well as violent behaviour and possession of cannabis.

The courts were told he was a “one boy crime wave”.

As the Post made inquiries for a backgrounder into the boy’s hearing, it found most residents on the street where he lives were too scared to speak for fear of retribution.