A MASSIVE majority of readers have backed the Bolton Evening News call to name and picture a young criminal who has terrorised a Bolton suburb.

An overwhelming 95 per cent of BEN readers gave support to our campaign in an exclusive phone poll -- with just 5 per cent opting to keep the 17-year-old youth's identity a secret.

A legal bid to overturn a court order banning identification of the Great Lever yob was ruled out by magistrates.

But today YOU have decided he should be named.

The youth made verbal threats to the BEN editor-in-chief and a BEN reporter following his appearance at Bolton Youth Court on Wednesday. He was sentenced to an 18-month detention and training order.

The final figures back up the picture shown in the interim voting figures published in yesterday's BEN, which indicated that 96 per cent were in favour of the youth being identified.

The yob pleaded guilty to 12 new offences, including theft of cars, driving while disqualified and without insurance and criminal damage. He had previously served two custodial sentences.

Yet, despite him being labelled a "one man crime wave" by Bolton South-east MP Brian Iddon, magistrates still wanted to protect his identity.

We firmly believe the public have a right to know who is terrorising their community.

And today the public told the authorities they were right behind us.