A 13-year-old boy under an Antisocial Behaviour Order (Asbo) has lost a High Court bid to overturn a ban on meeting his best friend in public.
Despite Joseph Hills' history of extreme anti-social behaviour, his legal team argued yesterday it was over-the-top for him to be barred from any public encounter with his friend.
But Mr Justice Keith disagreed, saying that much of his misbehaviour had occurred in the girl's company and there were signs he was motivated by "a desire to show off in front of her".
Joseph, of Festival Gardens, Tolleshunt D'Arcy, was aged just 12 when magistrates handed him the Asbo in August 2005.
The order was made after Essex Police complained of his abuse of teachers and pupils at Thurstable School, Tiptree, as well as the driver of the school bus, neighbours and the elderly residents of sheltered accommodation.
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