A teenager is paying the price for bad behaviour as he faces his second winter sleeping rough.

Andrew Roper, 19, had to leave his parents home in Warrior Close, Portslade, after neighbours complained of more than four years of harassment.

A court upheld eight complaints including incidents of verbal, physical and racial abuse and allegations Andrew had thrown items including eggs, beans and custard.

The William Sutton Trust, the housing association concerned, served a possession notice on the Ropers in July last year prompting the family to give an undertaking their son would not live there.

Since then Andrew has spent each night walking the streets and bedding down on beaches, benches and shop doorways.

Andrew said: "I've tried all the shelters and there is never room so I have spent every night on the streets. I need somewhere to go because it's getting cold.

"Although I get benefit, it doesn't last long."

His family say they have begged the council to rethink their refusal to house him.

His father Anthony and mother Ruth say their son's punishment for bad behaviour could prove too harsh.

Mrs Roper said: "He got into trouble and was punished and he's still being punished.

"We wish he could live with us but we have to think of our other two children. We don't want them to end up homeless too.

"I'm scared for Andrew. I try to keep him clean with clothes but he has nowhere to wash properly. He isn't feeding himself properly, so I bring him food to keep him going.

Andrew's father added: "I think it's wrong people from outside can come down and get housed while there's people from here on the streets. A lot of other kids are in the same position as Andrew."

Andrew helps his father with a disabled person's organisation in Hove.

The Ropers say head injuries Andrew received in a road accident in 1999 left him liable to suffer seizures and contributed to his bad behaviour.

Mrs Roper said: "He needs help. I'm worried he will get seriously hurt but his claims for help on medical grounds have been turned down too."

A spokesman for the William Sutton Trust said: "We only went to court after exhausting all other courses of action.

"We have a responsibility to other tenants on the estate.

"We appreciate how difficult it must be for Andrew's parents and would be happy to discuss the situation again with them."

Brighton and Hove City Council says with more than 4,000 on its housing waiting list, its priority remains families with children.

The teenager's case has already been reviewed.

A spokeswoman said: "We are very sympathetic but it was felt he wasn't suffering any more on the streets than anyone else sleeping rough."

She said Andrew could go to St Patrick's night shelter in Hove, approach Brighton Housing Trust for help or be referred to a direct access hostel.