A GANG leader who has terrorised a Plymouth community is back behind bars for attacking a police officer only three weeks after his release from custody.

Twenty-year-old Daryl Clough, from Efford, has been locked up again to serve the rest of his sentence for a brutal robbery.

Plymouth magistrates heard he committed a string of new offences after walking out of a young offender institution on licence about three weeks ago.

Clough, of Manifold Gardens, was handed a six-year anti-social behaviour order by the court back in 2006.

At the time, magistrates heard he continually terrorised residents in parts of Efford.

Arson attacks, threats of violence, harassment, trespassing and brandishing weapons were among the catalogue of complaints which led magistrates to grant the order after an application by Plymouth City Council.

He was convicted at Plymouth Crown Court last year of robbing a security guard.

That hearing heard Clough headbutted the man as part of a gang attack at a building site in Mutley. They escaped with his wages.

He was sent to a young offender institution for 32 months but has just been released on licence after serving half his sentence behind bars minus time spent on remand.

Now Clough has admitted assaulting a police officer, resisting another officer, breaching his Asbo and failing to disperse when directed by the police on August 30.

Magistrates sentenced him to 16 weeks in a young offender institution.

His solicitor Graham Kinchin said Clough's licence had already been revoked and he had been recalled to custody to serve the bulk of his remaining sentence — between 12 and 14 months.

Soo Jackaman-Hall, for the Crown Prosecution Service, said police directed Clough to leave the Union Street area just before 9pm.

She said officers saw Clough again in the Octagon at about midnight.

Miss Jackaman-Hall said Clough became abusive and grabbed the constable around the throat, scratching him on the face and neck.

Magistrates heard Clough had convictions for assault, theft and possessing ecstasy with intent to supply.

Mr Kinchin said Clough had himself been the victim of assault and had a black eye. He said Clough's contact with the officer's face had been brief.

Clough said he could not recall the incident and claimed his drink may have been spiked, said Mr Kinchin.