TWO of York's most notorious teenagers are behind bars - and their family believes it should have happened sooner.

Teenagers Foster and Robin Allan have been locked up for assault and breaching a ban on loutish behaviour.

Mum Angela said the decision to send them down could be a wake-up call.

Their uncle, Ron Atkin believes a "short, sharp shock" could end their reign of terror over Tang Hall residents.

THE family of two of York's most notorious teenagers said today: "They should've been sent down months ago."

Foster and Robin Allan's mum believes earlier prison sentences could have stopped their obnoxious behaviour in its tracks, while uncle Ron Atkin said a "short, sharp shock" could have diverted them from their hell-raising ways.

Both Tang Hall teenagers are now in custody after separate cases in which courts were told of their persistent antisocial behaviour.

Disqualified driver Foster, 16, was sentenced to 18 months last week after admitting assaulting a police officer when caught at the wheel of a friend's car.

The young hooligan was named and shamed after a court heard he has been arrested 40 times for offences ranging from vehicle-related crime to burglary.

Father-of-two Robin, 18, started a five-month sentence three weeks ago for breaching an Antisocial Behaviour Order (ASBO) by assaulting a man in a street fight. Neighbours of his Etty Avenue home have been warned of his behaviour in a police "name and shame" leaflet that highlighted his lawless lifestyle.

The two brothers are both subject to strict ASBOs that aim to curb their prolific offending and give police extra powers over them.

Angela Allan, who has seven other children, said: "It's been a difficult month. When you've never been there (in prison) before, it's difficult. I think it will help change their behaviour...it's definitely something they won't want happening again. They won't want to go back."

Speaking about Foster, she added: "I can lift my head up high. He hasn't robbed an old woman, he hasn't mugged anyone. It's a stupid thing he has done, and he's paying for it."

Mr Atkin, 57, of Chapelfields, said: "When I was 15 I nearly took a kid's eye out and got three months' detention. It was a short, sharp shock, and I've never been in trouble since.

"I think they both could've benefited from prison earlier in their lives. I learned myself the hard way. I'm speaking from experience."

He said: "Angela has never had it easy, I don't blame her one little bit for what's happened. You can't see what they are doing all the time."

Updated: 09:45 Tuesday, October 19, 2004