Nine-year-old boy admits burglary

A boy aged just nine has admitted burgling a house and stealing the keys of a car that crashed moments later, police said.

But the child was too young to be prosecuted because he was under the age of criminal responsibility.

Cleveland Police investigated the break-in at a house in Miller Crescent, Hartlepool on May 16, after reports that a red Vauxhall Vectra had been taken and crashed soon after with a parked white Renault Megane.

A force spokeswoman said: "A nine-year-old boy has admitted taking the keys from the property and enquiries are ongoing into the incident."

The Vauxhall owner, who was not named, told the Hartlepool Mail newspaper: "It is unbelievable what has happened, but it doesn't look like anything will happen apart from probably a slap on the wrists."

The owner said hundreds of pounds worth of damage had been caused to his car, and the other vehicle suffered worse damage.