Stefan, 11, one of youngest in county to receive ASBO

Stefan Gilmore, of Brightling Road, has been slapped with the order in the wake of a string of offences including street robbery, theft and joyriding. Stefan is too young to be placed in custody, even at a young offenders' institution.

And his family insists moving out of Hastings is the only way to rehabilitate the troubled child.

Stefan's parents believe his downward spiral began two years ago when the family moved from Brook Street. Father Lee, 26, said: "First of all it was running away, then nicking push bikes, petty things.

"Then he stole my car and crashed it. He stole it three times and I had to press charges against him. It's just gone downhill from there."

His father also claims Stefan - the second of eight children and a pupil at New Horizons School in Tilebarn Road - is physically and mentally abused by his current group of friends, the oldest of whom is aged around 14.

He said: "He thinks they're his friends but they mentally abuse him and sometimes even burn his legs."

The family welcomed the ASBO and the support offered by the police for Stefan.

His father said: "I think the ASBO could be a good thing, and hopefully it'll work. I'm happy to go along with what the police want.

"We are working with the police to resolve the situation. They give us a lot of support. They don't always get the recognition they deserve, but they really look after Stefan."

And the family are desperate to move out of the town to escape the influence of Stefan's circle of friends.

Father Lee said: "We want him to go to a new school and meet new people. It could change him. Putting him in prison won't solve the problem.

"He's 11-years-old. He could be a reformed character in a few years.

"Stefan thinks if he had his own bedroom he could go and hide himself away there and not have to run away. At the moment, he's sharing a room with five kids.

"But he is a criminal at the end of the day. A lot of people mollycoddle him but he's got a mind of his own and he can make the decision not to do these things."

Under the terms of Stefan's ASBO - which was imposed at Hastings Magistrates Court last week - he is banned from associating with certain friends, must not use threatening words or behaviour, and is under curfew at his home between 8pm and 7.30am.

Nigel Barry, ASBO co-ordinator with the Safer Hastings Partnership, says, "While I feel that Stefan is a victim of a number of circumstances, I am still pleased that he has been issued with an ASBO, because it must send a message to other unruly youths who feel they are above the law that they are not, and that my team and I will see to it that they are brought to heel.

"Our thanks must go to the police in the St Leonards Policing Priority Area (PPA) who have worked so hard to collate all the evidence and see this matter through to fruition."