At 19, Leeford Walker has turned his back on crime.

But as the repercussions of the order dawned on him, he realised it was not such a trophy after all.

The Asbo stopped him seeing his friends and going into certain parts of Leeds.

"It was like taking a little piece of me away," he said. "I wasn't happy about that. But now I've managed to turn my life around."

Leeford, 19, has become the first person to have a council Asbo lifted by a court. It was due to stay in force for five years from February, 2004, but it has now been revoked less than two years later.

Surveillance

He explained to BBC News how his life has changed.

"I've moved away from the area and its influences," he said. "And I've had a lovely little girl. Those experiences have opened my eyes and opened doors for the future."

I've been there. I know what it's like, so I can help Leeford Walker

Instead of being jailed for the drugs offences he was given the Asbo and placed on an Intensive Surveillance and Supervision programme (ISSP) - an alternative to prison for serious offending.

The close supervision helped him, he said, and made him determined to help others in the same situation.

"I've been there. I know what it's like, so I can help," he said. "I can put my experiences to others and tell them it's not worth it."

Now he wants to become a youth worker or join the armed forces.

Clear case

He admitted: "I still miss the little bit of excitement that crime brought - but I don't miss the consequences, being arrested and locked up and the police calling at 6am. My advice now is - don't get involved with crime."

Leeds city councillor Les Carter, executive board member for Community Safety in Leeds, said: "There are people who criticise the value of Asbos, but here is a clear case of where it has worked.

"We are committed to continuing to use anti-social behaviour legislation in a positive way to address problems caused by individuals.

"This, along with our huge investment into neighbourhood policing, is a sign of our commitment to remove the perpetrators of anti-social behaviour."