PA
A schoolboy who stole a £50 bin during the summer riots when he was just 11, went on to help his heroin addict dad steal fruit machines from a Romford pub.
The youngster, now 12, had been spared jail for the theft of the bin, but was caught stealing a bottle of cola from a supermarket just six days later. He was released on bail by Redbridge Youth Court for the shoplifting offence, but was caught stealing the machines with his dad shortly after.
Prosecutor Alex Mattic told Redbridge Youth Court that CCTV images showed the boy - who cannot be named for legal reasons - handing rocks to his dad who then used them to smash the windows of Yates' Wine Lodge in Romford on November 16.
"CCTV shows him handing rocks to his father who throws them through the windows," Mr Mattic said, "The burglary takes place. They are seen wheeling out fruit machines, which are then taken away on a van."
The boy pleaded guilty to charges of shoplifting, common assault and burglary.
He was given an 18-month youth rehabilitation order after taking part in the London riots, and at the time was already under a previous 'referral order' for offences of arson, criminal damage and carrying a pointed instrument.
Vicky Thompson, defending, said being arrested again had been a 'wake up call' for the boy, whilst his mum told the court that she had been trying to get an order in place to prevent his father from contacting them.
Adjourning until December 7 for pre-sentence reports to be prepared, the chairman of the bench told the boy: "You've been in a place you don't like. You know what to do. At 12 years old you shouldn't be hard. The bench can see you're not a hard boy and it says that's good. Look at your family behind you."
The youngster said he was "really sorry" for what he had done, and that he knew he was "making his family really upset."
He was bailed to his mother's house and banned from seeing his dad during that period.
The bench told his that he will be send "straight into secure accommodation" if he re-offends.
His father is currently being held on remand.