Magistrates at Dewsbury youth court heard the boy vow to mend his ways. But they decided his tally offences was so serious that custody was 'the only appropriate action' and gave him a 10-month detention and training order.

Chairman Barry Lockwood told him: "You are at a crossroads here."

The Dewsbury boy, who cannot be named for legal reasons, was in court last Thursday for sentencing after admitting six offences, including criminal damage, theft and burglary, at an earlier hearing.

Last week he asked for 10 other offences to be taken into consideration.

At the initial hearing, magistrates were told he had caused £300 of damage to a car with a brick; stolen a quad bike worth £5,500 before stealing a £400 TV from a house in Earlsheaton; driven a car he knew had been taken without the owner's consent; stolen a £60 mobile phone while wanted on warrant for failing to turn up for a court hearing.

He had also admitted a part in a burglary of the Crown Hotel in Chickenley; common assault; using words or behaviour to cause harassment, alarm or distress and criminal damage.

Prosecuting, Stephen Fox said: "He has ruined people's belongings and livelihoods with his stupidity."

For the boy, Paul Blanchard said the defendant started offending through 'anger problems' – lashing out at those in control of him.

"He then began taking cocaine and things really started to go wrong," he said.

Asked by Mr Lockwood if he had anything to say, the boy answered: "I shouldn't have done it all. Everything is going to change."

In addition to the detention, the boy was banned from driving for a year for aggravated taking of a vehicle.

The boy was told he will be released after five months and serve the rest of his sentence under supervision in the community.