The youth is banned from every shop in Colwyn Bay

The 17-year-old boy from Old Colwyn, who cannot be named, was given a two-year anti-social behaviour order (ASBO) by Llandudno magistrates.

He was also jailed for four months after being convicted of attempted burglary.

The boy is the first youth to be the subject of an ASBO in Conwy.

North Wales Police welcomed the sentence against the boy, who has 10 convictions including assault occasioning bodily harm, shoplifting and criminal damage.

Unruly behaviour is a big problem and we need to clean up the town Richard Poynton, Colwyn Bay chamber of trade

Stuart Lloyd, ASBO officer for Conwy and Denbighshire, said: "He terrorised the town centre as part of a group who he appears to have been the ring-leader of.

"We are hoping by targeting him and taking him out of the equation we will divert the other people coming to our notice."

Mr Lloyd said he was the head of a gang of six teenagers aged between 15 and 17.

He said the boy had smashed a window at the town's Safeway store and abused staff in Woolworth's shop.

Police are considering trying to obtain further ASBOs on another two members who Mr Lloyd said had started to offend.

Richard Poynton, acting chairman of Colwyn Bay's chamber of trade, said: "We are delighted with the news because unruly behaviour is a big problem and we need to clean up the town.

"We are very aware that the police's hands are tied and that they've got a difficult job.

"But being able to enforce ASBOs is probably the way forward."