The applicant had to satisfy the court that the individual had acted in an anti-social manner, that is to say, in a manner that caused or was likely to cause harassment, alarm or distress to one or more persons not of the same household as himself. A court could order an ASBO only if such an order was "necessary". Further, each prohibited act would usually be an act preparatory to a criminal offence rather than the offence itself, but not always: "Rabess v Commissioner of Police of the Metropolis" EWHC 208 (Admin). In addition, each prohibition itself had to be necessary. It may have been inappropriate for a condition to be not to spray graffiti – the final act as opposed to prohibiting the carrying of a paint-spray can in a particular area, marked on a map. This would only have been necessary if the court was sure that the respondent continually created graffiti with spray-cans in a specific area.