He cannot mention the green stuff which is a feature of gardens everywhere. If he does, he could face up to five years in custody.

Zachary Tutin, a 14-year-old from north Manchester, has been made the subject of an anti-social behaviour order which prohibits him from using the word "grass", after he repeatedly abused his neighbours, claiming that they were police informers.

The order bans him from saying grass at any time in England and Wales until 2010.

But grass has a number of meanings. The Oxford English Dictionary defines it as: "Herbage of which the blades or leaves and stalks are eaten by cattle, sheep, horses, etc", and "low-growing plants blanketing the ground", as well as "marijuana, esp as smoked. slang (orig US), in addition to "a police informer".

A Manchester councillor, Basil Curley, said: "Tutin has acted in a thoroughly nasty and dangerous manner. This order is intended to prohibit his terrible behaviour and to protect defenceless people, especially women, against his foul-mouthed attacks.

"If he breaches this order he can be arrested and brought to court, where he could be sent to detention."

The youth, of Blackley, was said to have waged a two-and-a-half year campaign of terror against his local community. He picked on his neighbours, swearing at them and insulting them, carrying knives and baseball bats, and stealing and damaging their property. He used other offensive words such as "slag".

He has convictions for theft and assault and has previously served a custodial sentence. He also used racist language towards an Asian shopkeeper.