A disturbed teenager wrecked the gas pipe to his estranged mother's home and threatened to blow her up.

As gas poured into the house, 18-year-old Stuart Gibson told his mother Helen: "I'm going to get a light and I'll see you in hell.''

Mrs Gibson, who was in the house with her daughter and a nine-year-old friend, was left terrified as her distressed son walked towards the embers of a nearby smouldering bonfire in case he returned to carry out his threat.

She called police and helped the two girls escape the gas-filled house, but Gibson did not return, Durham Crown Court heard.

Gibson admitted criminal damage being reckless as to whether life would be endangered and was sent to a young offenders institution for five years.

Prosecutor Martin Powers said the incident happened in the early hours of the morning, only hours after Gibson appeared in court and was given a deferred sentence for stealing a woman's handbag in Front Street, Stanley.

The frightened woman refused to allow him into the house in Fulforth Way, Sacriston and Gibson began smashing pieces of wood to make himself a shelter.

But an hour later he began banging on the door and threatening to kill his mother.

He told his mother he was going to gas her and she saw him rocking back and forward with his hand on the external gas meter.

When he was arrested later he said: "She is stressing me out. I got stressed. I don't know what I've done.''

Jamie Adams, in mitigation, said Gibson was emotionally immature and "very young in his mental aptitude''.

Mr Adams said the offence could be considered a cry for love and affection from his mother, adding that he had been "deprived in his most vulnerable years''.

Judge Richard Lowden told Gibson: "It is clear you are a disturbed young man but there is a difficulty that this court faces.

"You won't see a probation officer but a psychiatric report says you are not suffering from mental illness.''

The judge added: "You are a considerable risk in your present state and you will continue to be a risk for some time.''

Gibson, of no fixed abode, also admitted ordinary criminal damage, making threats to kill and the theft of the handbag.