A PLYMOUTH teenager arrested 47 times since the age of 11 has been banned from the city centre by a court.

Jaydee Cooper, aged 16, was yesterday handed an anti-social behaviour order at Plymouth Magistrates Court which she must comply with for three years.

After hearing representations from The Herald, the Magistrates decided it was in the public's interest to know of the order and permitted Cooper to be identified.

Cooper, of Desborough Road, St Judes, had 24 convictions relating to 37 offences including shoplifting, assault, making threats and damaging property.

The court heard the teenager had experienced a troubled up-bringing and was living in care provided by Plymouth City Council.

Defence for Cooper, Owen Lawton, questioned if the local authority had done enough before making the Asbo application. He said three letters addressed to the "parent or guardian" of Cooper had been sent when she was under care provided by the council.

He said: "She had no parent or guardian."

He also said not enough had been done to ascertain the views of Cooper's mother. But the court heard when she was eventually contacted she supported the application.

Dylan Sadler, prosecutor for Plymouth City Council, argued that an order must be put in place to protect the public and that she had offered no indication of changing her behaviour.

He said: "No-one can feel anything for Jaydee except deeply saddened by her life. A girl that is clearly very intelligent but is apparently flushing her life and future down the drain.

"But this Asbo is not about Jaydee. It's about protecting the community."

The Asbo handed to Cooper ruled she must not enter the city centre shopping area, including Royal Parade, Drake Circus, where she is already banned, Charles Cross, Bretonside, Cobourg Street, Western Approach and the Eastern side of Union Street.

She is however permitted to break this condition on Wednesdays between 10am and 2pm so she can go shopping.

She is not allowed to congregate in groups of four, including herself, and she is not allowed to be found intoxicated or to be in possession of alcohol or controlled drugs.

The order rules she is not allowed to contact two individuals who were named in court and she must not harass, intimidate or threaten any person in Plymouth or she would be breaking the terms of her order.

Magistrates warned Cooper if she breached the order she could face up to five years in jail.