A BOY has been “banned” from a retail park after being arrested and then subsequently bailed by police.

The 14fourteen-year-old, who is allegedly part of a gang who have been reportedly terrorising businesses on the Pitsea retail park, was arrested by officers after he was alleged to have assaulted a member of staff at the Range.

Despite initially evading police officers, he was tracked down and arrested nearby on Saturday evening.

He was then bailed after questioning, and told in no uncertain terms to stay well away from the retail park, which includes Pets at Home, Poundland, and a McDonald’s.

The boy was also told to not maintain contact with the group he was reportedly involved with.

After he had been arrested for the alleged assault at the retail store, a quick-thinking PCSO recognised him from previous CCTV images from earlier this month.

These images came from the KFC on the retail park, after it is claimed that the same boy assaulted a member of staff there too.

This reportedly occurred on New Year’s Day.

He was then further arrested for this offence.

Essex Police have reassured businesses on the retail park and residents who visit that they are continuing their work and investigations into the crime and disorder problems the group of youths are reportedly causing across Pitsea.

A spokesman for the force said: “A 14-year-old boy from Basildon was arrested on suspicion of common assault on Saturday, January 18.

“We were called to reports that a staff member in the Range had been assaulted that evening.

“When in custody, the teenager was arrested on suspicion of another offence of common assault, which is reported to have occurred in KFC on New Year’s Day.

“He has been released on bail until February 11.

“Please call 101 if you have any information.”

KFC was contacted for a statement.