A 12-YEAR-OLD tearaway could be banned from going out alone after confessing to a three-month crime spree that caused £1,700 worth of damage.

The pint-sized criminal, who cannot be named because of his age, admitted a total of 12 offences during an appearance at Basildon Youth Court.

He pleaded guilty to one assault, six thefts, five counts of criminal damage, one of making threats and one count of vagrancy.

The youth, from Southend, whose 13th birthday is not until August, was given a nine month rehabilitation order and is also the subject of a proposed criminal behaviour order.

The youngster’s spree started when he caused £1,000 worth of damage to the roof of Seabrook College, in Burr Hill Chase, Westcliff, on March 10.

On April 4, he stole a mobile phone and tobacco from a man.

He was charged with criminal damage after allegedly removing a wooden panel from a McDonald’s restaurant in Southend, causing £200 worth of damage on May 21.

The lad was also charged with threatening or abusive behaviour, but the two charges were later dropped.

He admitted vagrancy for being in the restricted rear yard of the fast food restaurant for the purposes of making an unlawful gain.

On May 29 he set fire to a council bin in Queens Road, Southend, but the charge was reduced from arson to criminal damage.

Also on that day he damaged windows at The Forum, in Coopers Way, Southend, worth £500.

The following day he assaulted another youngster in Southend.

On June 7, the youth stole a bike worth £130 from another boy and a speaker worth £40 from Boots.

He then stole jeans worth £7 from Primark on June 11, a Halifax bank card from a woman on June 15 and £30 from the same woman the following day.

He was given a nine month referral order, meaning he will take part in a course with social workers and write an apology to his victims.

The conditions of the criminal behaviour order, which could include a ban on going out unaccompanied, will be decided at the court on July 28.

A Southend Council spokesman said: “Breeching these conditions can see them taken back to court.

“If the court grants the order, there will be a multi-agency approach to its monitoring and enforcement. In the meantime, the young person is being monitored by the Youth Offending Service.”