A TEENAGER at war with his stepfather has appeared in court for a string of offences and been told to sort his life out before it’s too late.

The 17-year-old, who cannot be named because of his age, came before Swindon Magistrates’ Youth Court on Wednesday to answer ten charges.

They included brandishing a knife during a melee and assaulting his stepfather by biting his hand.

The teenager, who has no permanent home, also pleaded guilty to smashing windows of two housing association properties in September and October – one with a hockey stick as he wanted to ‘settle a score’ – as well as assaulting a Green Square member of staff by slamming a door on her hand and damaging a Wiltshire Police phone worth £27 by throwing it at a cell wall last month.

The root of the offences are down to his family circumstances and not being able to live at home with his mum, his defence solicitor Mike Pulsford told the court.

“The incidents are all where he has lost his temper,” Mr Pulsford said.

“His mother does not want him home. He has a real issue with his stepfather and doesn’t like him.”

Probation also told magistrates that they have had trouble engaging with the boy to help secure a permanent home for him and sign him up for benefits.

They explained that he has shown a flagrant disregard to attending his youth rehabilitation appointments.

Chairman of the bench Gail Chilcott asked the boy as he sat in the dock: “I guess you’re angry at the world?

“Do you realise that the people and agencies around you are trying to help you? Why won’t you let them help you?

“If you just keep saying ‘Don’t know’ and if you fast forward a few months you will be 18 and things will be very different. You won’t automatically be given the help you need.

“Get your life back on track so when you turn 18 you are ready to do what you want to do."

Mrs Chilcott, who imposed another 12-month community order on the boy, warned him that he might not be leaving out of the front door of the court the next time he appeared there.

She added: “Do you want to keep being arrested and brought to court? Only you can do anything about it.

"I do know young people like you in very similar circumstances and what I’m saying comes from the heart.

“The anger needs to be channelled elsewhere. Picking up bricks and lashing out at people is not going to help.

“Take the first step to adulthood and sort your life out.”