TEENAGE tearaway Ryan Wade has been found guilty of breaching his anti-social behaviour order and is now in custody.The thug who punched a middle-aged man on his way home from a fish-and- chip shop has been named and shamed by The Evening Star after South East Suffolk magistrates agreed his anonymity should be lifted.

By Amanda Cresswell

TEENAGE tearaway Ryan Wade has been found guilty of breaching his anti-social behaviour order and is now in custody.

The thug who punched a middle-aged man on his way home from a fish-and- chip shop has been named and shamed by The Evening Star after South East Suffolk magistrates agreed his anonymity should be lifted.

The court heard that victim Leslie Roper needed hospital treatment after he was hit in the face in an

unprovoked attack.

Magistrates at Ipswich Youth Court sentenced Wade, of Byron Road, Ipswich, to a ten- month detention and training order for breach of the order imposed in October last year.

After the sentence the Star successfully fought to lift the automatic ban which usually allows teenage thugs anonymity.

Chairwoman of the bench Anne Dunford allowed the Star to name the 17-year-old because the nature of his offending was persistent and serious and had significant impact on the community.

Chief Inspector Alan Pawsey welcomed the sentence and said: "It is a warning to other people who behave in a similar way.

"We will continue to vigorously enforce the law in relation to street disorder which makes other people's lives a misery."

The court heard that Mr Roper was walking home from Whitton United Football Club and bought chips from Meredith Road in Ipswich when he saw two youths coming towards him.

The youths were play-fighting and one of the pair kicked Mr Roper's chips out of his hand.

After Mr Roper challenged the pair Wade punched him in the face, causing a black eye and his nose to bleed heavily, said prosecutor Saqib Rauf. Giving evidence at the trial Mr Roper said: "I remember looking down at the food.

"The next thing I knew I was leaning against the wall and a lady from the shop was offering me a tissue and a phone."

He returned home and his sister took him to the accident and emergency department at Ipswich Hospital where he was referred to the eye, nose and ear department. His injuries included a black eye, a cut below his left eye and a swollen and blocked nose.

A taxi driver working for Anglia Taxis saw the assault in Meredith Road and later picked Wade out in an identity parade.

Dino Baracella, mitigating, told magistrates the case relied solely on identity. There was no forensic evidence, no CCTV evidence and no search made for clothing at Wade's house.

Wade – who appeared from custody for the trial – chose not to give evidence in court. He was supported by one of his sisters throughout the afternoon's hearing.

The court heard that Wade had a list of previous convictions, including for violence.

Half his sentence will be served in secure accommodation and the other half will spent under supervision in the community.

Mrs Dunford told Wade: "We are lifting reporting restrictions (on identity) because the nature of offending is

persistent and serious and had significant impact on the community.

"Reports we have read did not lead us to the conclusion you are an especially vulnerable offender."

Magistrates heard that under the terms, Wade had been banned from using behaviour likely to cause alarm, distress or harassment or initiating others to do so.