A 15-YEAR-OLD has been spared prison, despite pleading guilty to several offences, including stealing £2,500.

The boy, who cannot be named for legal reasons but is from Darlington, previously pleaded guilty to burglary, criminal damage and two counts of theft.

He appeared at Darlington Youth Court yesterday to be sentenced. Magistrates decided against custody.

The court heard he had a drug and alcohol problem and a mental age of ten.

The burglary, which took place on Tuesday, July 3, happened when they boy was at a friend's house. The friend knew his mother had £2,500 in a rucksack in a room locked with eight deadlocks. The boys broke in and they ran to a nearby park. The court heard the defendant received no money, but some was used to pay another boy's drug debts.

On May 11, the boy attempted to steal a Lambretta 125cc scooter worth £350.

On December 4 last year, he helped to steal two bottles of spirits from Asda, and on October 27, he committed criminal damage to a car.

The teenager's grandfather said: "If he goes down, it will kill him. He has turned a corner."

Magistrates gave the 15-year-old a 12-month supervision order, with 12 hours' reparation and a curfew from 8pm to 7am.

They also made him pay £86 costs.