A BOY who burgled a shop, rode a stolen moped, and bullied a younger child into handing over his bicycle has been sentenced to community service.

The 16-year-old, from Accrington, was ordered to do 50 hours service and was placed on probation for 12 months by Hyndburn Youth Court.

David Macro, prosecuting, said the boy was caught running from the scene of a burglary at a takeaway in Blackburn Road on May 31. The boy, who cannot be named for legal reasons, later admitted burglary.

He also admitted riding a moped which had been stolen from the grounds of Sacred Heart Church.

And on July 16 he approached a 12-year-old boy who was riding his BMX bike at the town centre skate park in St James' Square, Accrington. He bullied the boy into handing over his bike before riding off on the machine, which was later found abandoned. He denied a charge of robbery relating to the incident, but pleaded guilty to alternative charges of threatening behaviour and taking the bike without consent.

Graeme Parkinson, defending, said the boy had been in custody since August 13 and added: "He has had a taste of custody and he does not like it."

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