A TEENAGER who attacked a 13-year-old boy admitted he "wasn't right good at thinking," a court heard.

Burnley Crown Court was told how Brian Clinning, 19, functioned on about the same level as his victim -- and a judge adjourned sentence to see if a community penalty "with teeth" was on offer instead of custody.

Recorder Beverley Lunt said at the moment there was no realistic alternative to a lengthy period of detention and the public would think she had "lost it" if she gave the defendant probation again.

She bailed Clinning to live at Frederick Street, Accrington, until March 15, said he had pleaded guilty to a serious matter and there was no indication of what the outcome would be.

Roger Baldwin, defending, said Clinning operated on a low intellectual level.

He was punishing the 13-year-old for something he perceived the schoolboy had done wrong and was on about the same sort of level. Although the offence was serious it was like schoolboy bullying and it seemed Clinning was effectively used by other people and coerced to take part in it.

Mr Baldwin said the court could pass either custody or a community-based penalty and he accepted detention was the favourite.

When the defendant had been in custody, a chair had been thrown in his face and he had been picked on by others.

Clinning claimed he could not complain to the officers because if the other lads found out he would get singled out even more.

The barrister added Clinning needed punishment but perhaps the most important feature in the case was how the public would be best protected from such behaviour. The defendant was a young man who needed a great deal of work doing with him by some agency.

He needed help with his day to day stress.