A YOUNGSTER was given one months hard labour for stealing bread as youth Courts celebrated 100-years with a re-enactment.

NorthAllerton Magistrates Court took part in the Youth Court 100 celebrations as part of the Inside Justice Week event with a look back in time.

The event saw youngsters join court staff in dressing up to recreate a youth court from 1872 and one from 2009.

The aim was to show how youth justice has changed over the last century to visitors to the court on Saturday, October 24.

Michael Bray, legal team manager at the court, said: "It shows the change in youth courts since they were set up 100 years ago.

"Children from local schools played the defendants and we have done a lot of research.

"We hoped to show how legislation has moved on and how now the needs of the community, the defendant and the court have to be taken into account."

The 1872 trail was based on actual events and involved youngster Sophia Constable, of Whitby, and her friend Fanny Goodchild.

The pair faced trail for stealing bread and Sophia, 11, got one months hard labour and two years in the reformatory school. Fanny, 18, got hard labour.

The modern day trial saw a teenager in court for stealing a bottle of vodka.

Youngsters from Allertonshire School, Northallerton, St Francis Xavier School, Richmond, and Northallerton College took part.

A number of high profile guests including Judge Les Spittle, of The Magistrates Association, and Francesca Horsfield, the High Sheriff of North Yorkshire, were there.

Visitors to the court could also see the prison below and other attractions on a justice theme at the event.