A TEENAGE thief has been jailed for a year for burgling several town centre shops and stealing scratchcards.

The 17-year-old was sent to prison after earlier admitting carrying out the spree that targeted Bolton businesses.

Bolton Youth Court heard he committed almost all the offences while on either police bail or court bail.

Chairwoman of the bench, Joyce Armistice, told him: "We would have sentenced you to detention for 18 months but for your guilty plea so we're going to sentence you to detention for 12 months."

She said the offences had been "aggravated by drink and drugs and the amount of damage caused by your actions".

In March the 17-year-old took a till and its £300 contents from Go Naturally in Derby Street, as well as Easter eggs, a watch and a Marie Curie charity box from the Bolton CLC Bookshops in Deansgate and cash and food worth £40 from Panda Coffee in Bowkers Row on March 31.

The defendant broke in and stole £1,287 worth of unused scratchcards from WH Smith in Victoria Square in APril — cashing his £80 'winnings' at Spar in Chorley Old Road, Bolton.

He also admitted interfering with a motor vehicle, causing £300 damage to a wall and a radiator and failing to comply with a youth rehabilitation order.

Inspector Dave Henthorne, of the town centre and Halliwell team, said afterwards: "I have no doubt that business community will feel safer with this thief behind bars.

"He has caused thousands of pounds worth of damage, stolen cash and stock as well as caused general inconvenience to staff who have had to deal with his aftermath when they arrived for work."