A TEENAGER has denied breaching a police order, which ordered him to stay away from Cheltenham's High Street.
The 15-year-old, who cannot be named for legal reasons, appeared at Gloucester Youth Court yesterday, pleading not guilty to knowingly flouting a dispersal order.
Officers were given the power in November last year to tackle anti-social behaviour in St Mary's churchyard, Jenner Gardens, Clarence Street and the High Street from Primark to Ambrose Street by ordering certain people to leave the area.
The teenager was said to have been given three of the orders in the 10 days prior to alleged breach of the final one. The court heard the boy was told to stay out of the area for the next 24 hours by officers on May 8 this year at 5.55pm.
However, he was then seen by officers on his bike in the restricted area at 4.15pm the following day, while still subject to the ban.
Prosecutor Nadeem Aullybocus said the teenager would be claiming he accidentally flouted the order.
Defending the boy, Nick Cooper, added he did not realise the time when he entered the area.
The teen was accompanied to court by his mother.
Dispersal orders allows police to address anti-social behaviour in the area and target the small number of individuals who cause problems and nuisance to other shoppers, residents and businesses.
During the six months the orders were handed out, some 20 formal warning were given out by police and 20 others formally made to leave the area.
The 15-year-old is the only person to be arrested or charged in connection with breaching it.
He was granted unconditional bail until August 8 this year at 1.30pm. He was ordered to appear back before the court on that day to face trial, which is expected to last the afternoon.
Magistrate Rowenna Hay explained to the boy the trial could go ahead without him if he failed to turn up and a warrant may be issued for his arrest.
She told the boy off for putting his cap on while in court as he left.
