Judge gives teen burglar second chance

The 17-year-old boy was sentenced at Teesside Crown Court

A judge has given a teenage burglar a chance to turn his life around after being impressed with the boy's conduct in a young offenders' institution (YOI).

The 17-year-old was 16 when he tried to burgle two homes on the same night in Stockton, Teesside Crown Court heard.

The boy, who cannot be identified, got into trouble after using drugs, but had gone clean while at Wetherby YOI awaiting sentencing.

Sparing him jail, Judge Chris Smith said the burglaries were "awful", but the boy was a "bright and capable lad" who could help inspire others.

The court heard the boy had a "sharp implement" with him on 27 February when he confronted a woman in her home before fleeing.

Four hours later he let himself into a man's unsecured house.

He said he was under the influence of drugs at the time and could not really remember the incidents, but admitted aggravated burglary and burglary.

'Wreck lives'

Judge Smith said had the youth been aged in his 20s he could have been jailed for up to eight years.

But the judge heard the boy had made good progress over the past four months in Wetherby YOI, including getting clean of drugs and engaging in education.

Judge Smith said he was impressed with a "very important" letter the boy had written to his victims which began and ended with a "very real apology".

The boy's mother also wrote a letter to the court in which she said he had been a "good lad" and "pleasure to be around" until he started smoking cannabis, which led to worse drugs.

The woman said while her son's time in Wetherby YOI had been "horrible", he had stopped taking drugs and her son was "back".

Judge Smith said: "I can't think of a clearer case of illustrating how drugs are a really, really bad idea because they wreck lives."

The boy was given a two-year community order with intensive work with the probation service and a six-month overnight curfew.

The judge said it was a very difficult case to sentence but he believed the boy would "prove [him] right", "knuckle down" and "turn it around".

Judge Smith warned the boy he had been given a "lucky break", adding: "Don't play the lottery for a few months because all your luck has run out today.

"Your new life starts now. Don’t screw it up."