DON'T SAY GRASS, BOY IS WARNED

He cannot mention the green stuff which is a feature of gardens everywhere.
If he does, he could face up to five years in custody.

Zachary Tutin, a 14-year-old from north Manchester, has been made the
subject of an anti-social behaviour order which prohibits him from using
the word "grass", after he repeatedly abused his neighbours, claiming that
they were police informers.

The order bans him from saying grass at any time in England and Wales until
2010.

But grass has a number of meanings. The Oxford English Dictionary defines
it as: "Herbage of which the blades or leaves and stalks are eaten by
cattle, sheep, horses, etc", and "low-growing plants blanketing the
ground", as well as "marijuana, esp as smoked. slang (orig US), in addition
to "a police informer".

A Manchester councillor, Basil Curley, said: "Tutin has acted in a
thoroughly nasty and dangerous manner. This order is intended to prohibit
his terrible behaviour and to protect defenceless people, especially women,
against his foul-mouthed attacks.

"If he breaches this order he can be arrested and brought to court, where
he could be sent to detention."

The youth, of Blackley, was said to have waged a two-and-a-half year
campaign of terror against his local community. He picked on his
neighbours, swearing at them and insulting them, carrying knives and
baseball bats, and stealing and damaging their property. He used other
offensive words such as "slag".

He has convictions for theft and assault and has previously served a
custodial sentence. He also used racist language towards an Asian shopkeeper.