Teenager avoids ban on trousers which show off underpants

A proposal to legally ban a teenager from wearing his trousers so low that the public could see his underpants has been rejected, it was revealed yesterday.

Ellis Drummond, 18, was facing an anti-social behaviour order (Asbo) preventing him from "wearing trousers so low beneath the waistline that members of the public are able to see your underwear".

The Asbo would have prohibited him from displaying his boxer shorts or briefs anywhere public in Bedford Borough.

It would also have banned him from wearing a hooded top with the hood up in any public place in Bedford Borough.

The Crown Prosecution Service (CPS) said it intended to include the prohibitions in an Asbo for Drummond, from Rushden, Northamptonshire, following his convictions for assault, possession of drugs and a public order offence at Bedford Magistrates' Court on April 27.

But before the court hearing, and following discussions with Drummond's defence solicitor, it was decided that they were "no longer necessary or proportionate to protect the public from further acts of anti-social behaviour", the CPS said.

Also ditched were proposals to ban Drummond from entering Bedford bus station and the McDonald's restaurant in Bedford High Street.

An Asbo banning him from approaching anyone and demanding, asking or seeking money or personal items of property belonging to them using threatening words or behaviour was imposed.

The teenager was also banned from entering any part of the building or grounds of Bedford College and from using threatening, abusive or intimidatory behaviour likely to cause harassment, alarm or distress or encouraging others to do the same in Bedfordshire.

A CPS spokeswoman said: "It is important to bear in mind that the case for including the prohibitions relating to Mr Drummond's clothes was never argued in court.

"The prohibitions contained in the notice to the court were drafted by Bedfordshire Police and subsequently endorsed by the CPS.

"These were based on statements provided by witnesses and victims in the criminal proceedings together with his previous convictions."

The fashion among young men for wearing their trousers low beneath the waistline, leaving their underwear on show, has previously been criticised by Barack Obama.

In an interview with music television channel MTV in November 2008, the US president said "brothers should pull up their pants".

In Britain, a ban on another young men's fashion statement was imposed in 2008 at Greenwich Magistrates' Court in south-east London, where a gang member was prohibited from wearing hooded tops.

The clothing was deemed to be used to intimidate others.