A TEENAGE burglar fell in with the wrong crowd, a court heard.

The 17-year-old from Penhill had been befriended by a man in his 30s, with whom he stole more than £3,000 in cash, a watch and a mobile phone from a Blunsdon home.

Swindon Youth Court heard that the boy, who cannot be named for legal reasons, broke into the Hebden Close home in mid-March.

Prosecutor Nick Barr said he was caught out after inserting a new simcard into the stolen phone: “He is interviewed in relation to the matter. He says in essence that originally he bought the phone from someone.”

He entered another Blunsdon home on March 29 intending to steal. The teen and his accomplice, 34, who will stand trial later this year, were caught on CCTV but did not appear to take anything.

Defending, Tony Nowogrodzki said his client had a difficult upbringing and that his father was currently battling cancer. He reserved his ire for the teen’s so-called friend, with him he committed the burglary: “When you’re a teenager you form friendships with people you think are your friends and really they’re not.”

The boy, who has a previous conviction for GBH, said he no longer hung around with the troublemakers in Penhill.

Admitting a charge of burglary and two of attempted burglary, he told magistrates: “I thought I’d make some money. I wish I hadn’t done them. They’ve got me sat in here. What was the point? There is just a group of people who get together who are all criminals. I just want to get a trade, be a carpenter or a plasterer.”

Magistrates imposed a 12-month youth rehabilitation order with a six month intensive supervision and surveillance order. He must pay £100 compensation to each of his two victims.