A SIMPLE-MINDED hooligan is to get royal-sponsored help to stop his orgy of violence on the streets of York.

Anti-social Michael Brian Kitching, 19, even invaded the home of an ex-girlfriend where he threatened to "rip off" her new boyfriend's head. He also broke down a locked door when the couple tried to hide from him, York Crown Court heard.

Helen Holmes, prosecuting, said that on another occasion, he went on a 15-minute rampage in Newgate Market at night, throwing a gas canister at stalls and knocking over a stacking frame and shouting abuse. He offended on bail so often that magistrates remanded him in custody on March 25.

But after hearing the details of Kitching's catalogue of alcohol-fuelled crimes and how he had repeatedly broken an anti-social behaviour order designed to curb his violence, Judge Michael Murphy set him free under strict conditions.

"If you get drunk and cause trouble, you will go back (to jail) like a shot," the judge warned him, and showed him his red judge's book.

"I have got you down in the book."

He said a psychologist had assessed Kitching as being of such low IQ that he was only just above the level of a person with learning disabilities and he had a depressive personality disorder.

That meant that a prison would act as a criminal "finishing school" for Kitching, and teach him criminal habits.

So the judge put him on a 12-month community punishment and rehabilitation order including an intensive control and change programme and a 12-hour nightly curfew aimed at keeping him out of pubs. Under the order, Kitching would have to do 25 hours' supervised activities a week made up of unpaid work for the community, alcohol rehabilitation sessions, mentor sessions and work with the Prince of Wales Trust programme. Kitching, of Birstwith Drive, Acomb, York, pleaded guilty to six breaches of an anti-social behaviour order, two common assaults, one of causing actual bodily harm, one attempted assault, one offence of criminal damage and one of using threatening words and behaviour.

His barrister, Nicholas De La Poer, said Kitching had not been in trouble with the police until 2002.

Then he left the "intensively controlled environment" of his residential school in 2002 and started mixing with the wrong crowd and drinking alcohol.

9.30pm, July 9, 2004

Part of a two-man attack on Michael Turton as the psychotherapist was walking along Scarcroft Road, York. Kitching got him in a headlock, dragged him along the top of a parked car and threw him to the ground before running off and leaving the other man still attacking Mr Turton. The psychotherapist suffered a bloody nose, cuts and bruises.

11pm, July 16, 2004

Went on a day-long drinking binge on the river bank with a large group of youths. When a nearby shop refused to serve him and a 16-year-old friend, he punched the friend twice in the jaw.

About midnight, August 14, 2004

In Rougier Street, tried to punch a man in the face while police watched.

10pm, November 26, 2004

Went on the rampage for 15 minutes through Newgate Market. Struggled and swore with police officers.

At Fulford Road Police Station, spat in custody officer Mark Ridley's face.

December 27, 2004

Carrying an almost empty bottle of vodka, stormed into the bedroom of the new partner of his ex-girlfriend Alexandra Storr, and threatened to "rip his head off". The boyfriend locked himself in the bathroom.

She tried to lock herself into a different room, but Kitching broke the lock and kicked down the door.

February 24, 2005

With a co-accused, threw stones and broke the window of the other man's girlfriend.

Handed himself in on March 24, said he had not meant to break the window and was remanded in custody.

April 29, 2005

Freed and given a combination order and curfew.

Updated: 09:45 Monday, May 02, 2005