THREE boys who terrorised a child care welfare assistant in a 45-minute ordeal, leaving her traumatised, have been sent to detention.

Burnley Crown Court heard how their victim, Joan Dewhurst, was trapped in a room and had a knife pointed at her throat as one of the trio tried to light aerosols.

He was successful with a can of WD 40, shooting a flame towards her, and then the defendants made off with £32 cash.

The youngest of the defendants, just 12 years old, wiped away tears as Judge Raymond Bennett told them it was hard to believe the three -- the others aged 13 and 14 -- had criminal records at their age, but they were persistent offenders..

He told them: " Nobody likes sending you away but let me tell you that if you commit crime and you are caught something nasty has to happen to you. You brought it on yourselves and you have only yourselves to blame."

All three, then living in the Accrington area, admitted robbery. The 14-year-old and the 13-year-old were each given two years while the 12-year-old received 12 months.

Michael Lavery, prosecuting, said the defendants pushed against a door and forced their way into an Mrs Dewhurst's office.

The 14-year-old, who was due to go to McDonald's, demanded he be taken for his tea and Mrs Dewhurst tried to calm him down.

The 13-year-old picked up an air freshener and sprayed it around, closed the curtains and then directed it into her face.

He then got a can of hairspray and one of WD 40, and the eldest of the three tried to ignite a can with a cigarette lighter.

Mr Lavery said a flame shot from the WD 40 can, but did not come into contact with the complainant. The 14-year-old shouted: "Do you think I won't do it?" Mrs Dewhurst was pushed around the room, doors were broken from drawers and the 13-year-old pointed a knife at her face and threatened to slash it if he wasn't given her keys.

He then tried to cut her and the knife was held against her throat as an obscene comment was made.

The trio struggled with Mrs Dewhurst, got the keys from her hand, took a cash box containing £32 and ran from the office. The defendants were later found together at a house and said they had spent the cash on food and cigarettes.

Anthony Cross, for the 14-year-old, said there had been an improvement in his general attitude and behaviour.

For the 13-year-old, Mark Stuart said he had been in care since before the age of one.

Defending the 12-year-old, Mr Stuart said he was the least involved of all three. There had been difficulties in his family and he had been the subject of a care order for three years.