A TEENAGER shimmied down a tree after stealing a wallet from a home while the owners were in the house, a court heard yesterday.

A 15-year-old boy, who cannot be named for legal reasons, admitted stealing a wallet and its contents to magistrates in Darlington Youth Court.

Hari Jandoo, prosecuting, told the court that the boy, from Darlington, had entered the home on May 3.

He took the wallet and its contents, worth a total of £155, before climbing down a tree.

He was seen by a neighbour, who heard voices coming from over the fence. He told his neighbour, who was in at the time of the burglary.

The wallet was later returned, but with £135 cash missing.

Steven Andrews, mitigating, said the boy had not damaged any property, ransacked the home or confronted any of the occupants.

The teenager was given an 18-month supervision order with 24 hours reparations work and ordered to pay £135 compensation.

His mother was also given a 12-month parenting order.