A 15-YEAR-OLD boy faces being locked up after assaulting a man and stealing his car and cash from his home.

The teenager, who cannot be named for legal reasons, appeared before Darlington Youth Court yesterday.

Magistrates heard how the youngster had twice burgled a property in Conyers Avenue, Darlington, this month.

Hari Jandoo, prosecuting, said when the teenager entered the house on January 20 he was involved in an altercation with the owner.

"The man was punched in the face," he said. The youngster then made off with £15.

The boy first broke into the house on January 14 and stole cash, a camera and a spare set of car keys.

The court heard that he had taken a Vauxhall Corsa from the property and on January 15 drove it while disqualified and without insurance.

Mr Jandoo said the boy was involved in an accident with a Vauxhall Astra, which resulted in that car being written-off.

The defendant pleaded guilty to the charges of assault, burglary and driving a car while disqualified, without insurance and knowing it to be stolen.

Magistrates adjourned the case until February 13, for a pre-sentence report to be prepared and told the boy they were steering towards a custodial sentence.

He was given bail on condition he complied with a curfew.