Bexley: The News Shopper has succeeded in its campaign to name a teenager for breaching his Anti-Social Behaviour Order.

District judge Jane McIvor agreed with the newspaper it was in the public interest for 16-and-a-half-year-old offender Joshua Easom, from Belvedere, be named.

Joshua, who lives in Rutland Gate, pleaded guilty at Bexley Magistrates Court on Monday to three breaches of his ASBO, which was imposed on him in July last year.

The breaches took place on July 22, August 8 and September 18 this year.

In allowing the News Shopper's application, Judge McIvor said she was aware of the history of the case and had decided it was now in the public interest to allow publicity.

"There have been umpteen previous breaches and in this case, it is in the legitimate interests of the people in Bexley.

"It is in their area that the Anti-Social Behaviour Order has been imposed and for their benefit."

She said allowing publicity ought to make further enforcement of ASBOs more effective and prevent more anti-social behaviour from Joshua.

The paper's application was opposed by Joshua's counsel Gary Grant, who said it was only in exceptional circumstances that a judge should allow the naming of a juvenile offender.

He said if the News Shopper wanted to report on the effectiveness or otherwise of ASBOs it could do so by referring just to Youth A.

He suggested the newspaper was being simply salacious in wanting to use Joshua's name in its reports. He added the reporting of breaches of Joshua's ASBO would not be any more effective if he was named.

The News Shopper was banned from publicising what activities Joshua had been involved in which breached his ASBO.

Joshua was sentenced to four months' detention and training for his third breach on September 18. He was also sentenced to four months detention and training for the breach of his order on July 22 to run concurrently and four months detention and training for his breach on August 8, also to run concurrently.

Joshua's father David Easom was asked by the judge if he wanted to say anything at the end of the hearing, as his son was taken into custody. He replied: "It's not before time."

News Shopper editor Andrew Parkes said: "I am delighted that, finally, the right decision has been reached and the public can be told the truth.

"We will continue to campaign on your behalf to name any persistant young offenders who are allowed to terrorise our community".

November 12, 2001 12:00