"BAD girl" Jasmyn Lawson brought misery to her Bromyard estate bullying young and old alike - aged just 11.

On Monday, Hereford magistrates made sure she couldn't do it anymore.

Lawson, now 12, of Firs Lane, Bromyard, is the youngest offender in Herefordshire to be served with an anti-social behaviour order (ASBO).

A breach of the order - that bans her from engaging in any form of violence, intimidation, damage, or harassment - could land Lawson behind bars. The order also says she can't even swear.

Evidence outlined the months of misery and abuse Lawson inflicted on Firs Lane estate. It got so bad that some residents were too afraid to leave their homes in case they became her targets.

But the court also heard that Lawson was trying hard to change her ways.

Lawson was said to be a "vindictive" child who held sway over a number of young people in Bromyard and would not hesitate to retaliate - either physically or verbally - when crossed.

Nor did she have any fear of taking on adult authority. When challenged she would simply - and robustly - say she didn't care, said Neil Campbell, for West Mercia Police.

The court heard that among her offences were:

Forcing a family, including an 82-year-old woman, to move, after repeated attacks on their home. Lawson, the court heard, was the apparent ringleader of a gang that regularly hurled stones and mud at the house and shone bright lights into its windows late at night.

Violently bullying the 11-year-old daughter of a witness against her and frequently abusing the girl's mother in public.

Forcing a girl to flee to a stranger's house out of fear, then trying to kick a way in to get at her.

Repeatedly taunting a woman as a Lesbian.

Making foul, abusive calls to a 10-year-old girl on a mobile phone.

Some of the offences occurred after Lawson had signed an "acceptable behaviour contract" earlier this year.

By July, police were so concerned about what Lawson was up to that they applied for - and been given - an "emergency" ASBO from magistrates to try and rein her in while the full order was sought.

Anthony Weston, for Lawson, said that the "extraordinarily bad" girl had changed her ways since the emergency order was made and was cultivating a different circle of friends. She was soon to start a new school, said Mr Weston

Lawson's mother Lisa told the court she had quit the full-time job that kept her from supervising her daughter "as a mother should".

In return, she said, her daughter was doing "the best she can" and wanted the chance to change.

Paula Gregory, one of neighbours who had complained about Lawson, said in evidence that she was now "nice and helpful" by comparison.

The order will keep Lawson's conduct in check until August 2008. Her mother was not made the subject of a parenting order. The bench said she was doing "everything she could" to help her daughter.