A NOTORIOUS teenage criminal dubbed Homing Pigeon Boy has been given a last chance of a fresh start.

Shaun Andrew McKerry, 18, appeared before Sedgefield magistrates yesterday, where he admitted two charges of theft and one of possession of cannabis.

The court heard that McKerry, of Benbow Walk, Coundon, County Durham, was a passenger in a car stopped by police on New Year's Eve. A search revealed he was carrying a small amount of cannabis.

On January 8, McKerry was spotted on security cameras acting suspiciously in the Northern Electric store at Bishop Auckland. When he was picked up by police, he handed over a cordless digital telephone he had stolen.

While on bail for that offence, McKerry was caught by staff at Asda in Bishop Auckland, on February 2. He had stolen two bottles of whisky. He also admitted failing to surrender to custody at Crook police station on January 16.

Magistrates yesterday released McKerry on conditional bail to be assessed for a drug rehabilitation and treatment order. The case was adjourned until March 18.

McKerry, who police dubbed Homing Pigeon Boy for his habit of returning home after committing crimes, has been arrested dozens of times since 1995.

In August 2000, he was sentenced to four years in a young offenders' institution for robbing a village postmaster at knifepoint.

His sentence was cut following an appeal, but he spurned that chance to stay out of trouble when he was arrested three times in 11 days after his release, in September last year.