A GANG of teenage tearaways who terrorised the old and vulnerable was behind bars last night.

The four Teesside youngsters, aged between 15 and 19, were responsible for a campaign of break-ins, intimidation and theft.

Most raids were carried out on elderly people's homes at night.

In the most chilling episode, a 62-year-old man was pinned to his bed with a knife at his throat after finding three strangers in his bedroom.

Other incidents saw an 83-year-old woman lose her £3,000 life savings, and an elderly woman's daughter confronting two raiders in her home before they escaped through a smashed window.

At Teesside Crown Court yesterday, Judge George Moorhouse lifted an anonymity order on the youths.

He said: "It is only right, because of the nature of these offences, that the public knows what happens to these individuals, and who they are."

Graeme Bennett, 19, was locked up for six years after being convicted of the aggravated burglary of the 62-year-old's Redcar home, and admitting holding up the town's Prima Donna Pizza Shop with a knife.

Andrew Ord, 17, of Essex Close, and Jason Collinson, 15, of Cropton Close, both Redcar, were each detained in a young offenders' institution for three years.

Dean Allinson, 16, of Essex Close, admitted four burglaries. He was given 18 months' detention for his part in the reign of terror from November last year to March.

The court heard Bennett had carried out the crimes to feed his heroin addiction.

Jonathan Walker, for Ord, described him as "a spoilt idiot", who wanted to apologise.

The judge heard Collinson was full of remorse, while Allinson was emotionally immature.

and almost totally illiterate.