District Judge Phillip Gillibrand was told that the ASBO was urgently required to prevent the risk of Joshua Clarke, 14, from causing a fire and injuring someone or harassing residents with his aggressive behaviour.

He heard evidence from Rushmoor Borough Council that Clarke, of Aldwick Close, Farnborough, had made a nuisance of himself in the neighbourhood between November 2003 and December 12 this year.

The allegations made against Clarke at Aldershot Magistrates’ Court included him being seen with a large can of petrol on playing fields at Oak Farm School on November 22.

The interim order runs until January 25 when an application for a full order will be made.

It prevents Clarke from possessing matches and cigarette lighters, any flammable liquids such as petrol and paraffin and consuming alcohol anywhere.

It also prevents him from entering the Totland Close flats, any community buildings or educational establishment and any private property without permission.

In addition, the order prohibits him from either causing or encouraging others to cause alarm, distress or harassment to others in Rushmoor.

Michael Lovelock, who made the ASBO application on behalf of the borough council, described Clarke as “out of control”, saying he had a destructive and demoralising effect on the Totland estate.

He said: “The community warden Anthony Medlicott describes him as aggressive, abusive and says he needs to be controlled before something serious happens.”

He also said Clarke did not adhere to an ASBO warning notice served on him in November 2004 after which he continued to enter the flats in Totland Close.

He said residents were initially frightened to report complaints against the youth but had gradually been persuaded to come forward.

Other allegations and complaints against Clarke included causing criminal damage and graffiti and the possession of drugs.

During the hearing District Judge Gillibrand called on the borough council to demonstrate the urgency of the interim order because a lot of the evidence dated back to November.

In response, Mr Lovelock cited two written statements from residents.

One related to December 10 when Clarke was accused of ripping a gate off its hinges.

In the other incident he was accused of jumping on the bumper of a car and causing harassment on Monday December 12.

District Judge Gillibrand said he was concerned about Clarke’s interest in pyrotechnics and accepted the community needed protection.

Following an application by the News he also agreed not to impose reporting restrictions on the teenager’s identity because it was important that the community was aware of who he was.

He said: “I do not want it on my head that a fire has been lit and individuals hurt because people were not aware the court acted as it did.”

He did consider Clarke’s right to a private family life but said the risk that he could injure someone could not be ignored.