Five months ago he was banned from entering Kingston town centre until his 18th birthday. Yet, Sunday night saw the so-called Hook Hoodlum attend a prestigious awards ceremony for youth achievement in Kingston's biggest nightclub.

Robbie Bennett, 15, terrorised Hook Parade traders for four years, but was given special permission to breach his antisocial behaviour order after he was nominated for educational achievement in the Youth Achievement Awards.

The order, a breach of which is usually considered a criminal offence, banned Robbie from the town centre and from loitering with four or more people.

But he was among hundreds of young people who attended the awards ceremony at Oceana, to receive a certificate.

Chief Inspector Tim Pointer, who attended the awards, said: "He Robbie is allowed to enter the town if a meeting has been pre-arranged.

"His Asbo conditions weren't breached and he was there with his mother."

After our report last year, his new headteacher David McMahon said Robbie had tried hard to turn his life around and was a model pupil.

Chris Orton, receptionist of the Optical Gallery in Hook Parade where Bennett used to bully staff, said: "I'm sceptical, but if he's really turned himself around then good luck to him"

p For more on the awards, see pages 12 and 13.