A TEENAGER has walked free from court after admitting putting a firework through a family's door that caused a fire.

Teesside Crown Court heard how the arson attack was the latest in a catalogue of anti-social behaviour incidents suffered by the woman and her children.

A firework was initially put into the letterbox, blowing it from the door of the semi-detached home in Lanchester Road, Grangetown, Middlesbrough, in October last year.

Callum Gill, 17, of Roberts Avenue, Middlesbrough, then pushed another firework through the hole.

This ignited a curtain and damaged the door.

The woman occupant, who was at home at the time with several of her children, discovered the fire after being alerted by a loud bang and flash.

She called for one of the children to bring water, before confronting Gill and the group of youths outside.

She told them her children could have been killed.

However, Gill swore at her and told her to go back inside, the court heard.

The defendant was arrested shortly afterwards.

Police reported that he smelt of alcohol and also suspected he had taken drugs.

He denied the incident when questioned, despite CCTV images capturing the group of youths lighting fireworks in the streets beforehand.

In a victim impact statement, the woman said she had been left wondering "what would happen next" after the incident.

She said her family could have been killed had they not found the firework, adding that she no longer wanted to live in the area.

Kieran Rainey, mitigating, said his client had learning difficulties and a below-average IQ.

He said that Gill had once blown his own thumb off with a lit firework.

The digit was stitched back on by doctors.

He said: "When he put it in the letterbox he thought it would cause a bang and nothing else.

"He is tremendously sorry for what he did on that night."

Sentencing Gill to a 12-month supervision order, Judge Howard Crowson said he had "behaved foolishly and dangerously".