A teenager has been banned from meeting his older brother in public under an antisocial behaviour order (Asbo).

Jimmy Fitzgerald, 17, has been told he cannot see his brother Ricky, 29, outside their home, after he breached a previous Asbo.

Jimmy has been linked to a series of offences in Burgess Hill and Haywards Heath.

But Ricky claims the order is unfair.

He said: "Me and my mum are very upset about the decision. Whatever Jimmys done has got nothing to do with me so why split us up? At the end of the day were brothers, so why stop us seeing each other?"

Jimmy was the first young person in Mid Sussex to receive an Asbo.

He is now serving four months in prison, which will be followed by four months of training, but he will not be able to see his brother in public until May 2008, when the order expires.

Chief Insp Ball said: "We've never gone as far as this to ban someone from having contact with their family but this is an extreme case.

"They can get together socially at home, just not when they go out."

In 2003, Ricky was the first person in Britain to receive an Asbo. He was also the first person to breach it and be sent to prison.

The Fitzgerald family have twice been evicted on the back of Asbos served by Sussex Police.

They lived in Cuckfield and then moved to Bentswood Crescent, Haywards Heath. They moved from there to Burgess Hill after being accused of terrorising neighbours.

Chief Insp Ball said: "We don't consider Ricky a good role model and their association isn't doing Jimmy any good."

Jimmy's first Asbo was issued in 2003, with further conditions added two years later. He is now banned not only from meeting his brother but also other youngsters issued with similar injunctions.

On his release from prison he will not be allowed to set foot in Haywards Heath or Lindfield unless visiting the doctor or his grandfather.