A TEENAGE thief was ordered to give up crime and swot for his exams instead.

The Clacton youth - who cannot be named for legal reasons - was out in the early hours stealing cash from cars, a court heard.

He admitted theft at Colchester Magistrates' Court.

"This happened at 3am - why wasn't he swotting for his exams rather than thieving?" asked district judge David Cooper.

"If I curfew him he will have to stay at home and study for his GCSEs.

"It would be better to be at home under his mother's watchful eye - she doesn't want him out at three in the morning."

It was the 16-year-old's third time in court this year. He didn't think his mother would want him at home all evening but she agreed to the curfew to prevent her son going into detention.

The judge said: "She has saved your bacon, so I hope you are going to be very grateful."

Tagging him for three months, the judge warned: "If you break your curfew I'll send you inside."