A JUDGE told of his horror at reading the list of previous convictions of a man in court.

David Gascoigne's offending started at the age of ten with theft and affray, and went on to amount to 43 offences - many committed before his 14th birthday.

Gascoigne, now a 20-year-old self-employed builder, appeared in court again yesterday after he admitted perverting the course of justice.

He was given a 12-month community rehabilitation order and ordered to pay £250 costs for hiding a samurai sword, which police were looking for as they investigated an attack in Hartlepool.

Two men, who were thought to have been involved in the attack, fled to Gascoigne's home in the town's Moore Street and left the weapon there, Teesside Crown Court heard.

Gascoigne was said to have thrown the sword into a nearby garden to hinder police.

Judge John Walford said Gascoigne acted almost instinctively, and that the offence was not a typical one of perverting the course of justice.

Judge Walford said he would have jailed Gascoigne had he not already spent six weeks on remand and entered an early guilty plea.

Gascoigne's barrister, Robin Denny, said his client had suffered from a chaotic upbringing, but that his criminal activity had lessened as he got older.

Judge Walford: "It appears that his offending has tailed off since he got to the dizzy heights of 14 years of age.

"I do not think I have ever seen as bad a record attached to someone below the age of 14."

Gascoigne's previous convictions included three for possessing offensive weapons or firearms, motoring offences, 22 theft offences and five public disorder offences.