A BOY of 16 burgled his parents bedroom, stole £12,000 in jewellery and cash and went on a four-day spending spree with his friend.

The teenager, who cannot be identified because he is under 18, broke into the bedroom, which had been locked because of previous problems with his behaviour.

Prosecutor Simon Brenchley told a hearing at Swindon Youth Court that he then took the jewellery and around £5,000 in cash from a safe and took a trip to Poole in Dorset with his 17-year-old friend.

Once there they stayed in a hotel and spent up to £2,000 of the proceeds on clothes and jewellery for each other.

During the four-day spree the older youth telephoned his stepfather to tell him where they were and told him the 16-year-old had committed the burglary.

The younger boy pleaded guilty to a charge of burglary and his friend admitted handling £2,000 knowing it was stolen.

The court heard the younger defendant, whose mother was in court, had completely breached his parents' trust and they were at the end of their tether.

Both defence solicitors asked for reports to be prepared on their clients.

Rob Ross said police had remanded the 16-year-old into care rather than on bail because they took the view it was a serious house burglary.

Con Fernandez, for the older defendant, said his client appeared to have a lot of anger in him regarding his own family, which needed to be examined.

He added that although the 17-year-old admitted benefiting from the £2,000, at no time did he have custody of the money.

The younger boy was remanded into the care of social services and his co defendant was granted bail on the condition that he lived where social services sent him until their next appearance on October 13.

Tina Clarke