A TEENAGER who attempted to break into an entire row of houses on a Wrexham street has been sent down.

Mold Crown Court heard how James Robert McCue, 18, also stole and later crashed a car with a judge noting that the teen had appeared at court with "depressing regularity".

The court heard McCue, of no fixed abode but formerly of Hightown, stole the keys to a Vauxhall Astra while attending a Halloween party last year before later crashing the car into another vehicle on Priory Street, Wrexham.

He also admitted trying to gain entry to a number of homes on March 16 where he was caught on CCTV trying the handles of seven doors in Foxwood Drive, Wrexham, while a 17-year-old accomplice kept watch.

The court heard from one of the householders, a mother who was woken up in the early hours of the morning and was left "scared and uneasy in her own home," according to her victim impact statement.

She called the police who found the defendant hiding behind a bush and arrested him and his accomplice, said to be awaiting trial in the youth court.

On being put into the police vehicle McCue became aggressive, kicking out and causing damage to one of the car's doors.

The prosecution said McCue had ignored investigations into his first offences and had continued committing crime before and after.

He had previously been sentenced for theft, assault, aggravated vehicle taking and failing to comply with sentencing orders.

Oliver King, defending, said his client was "increasingly involved in criminal behaviour" and was no stranger to custody.

He said: "His criminal behaviour is not yet entrenched.

“Hopefully he can be steered away from offending in future and get back on track."

Judge Rhys Rowlands added McCue had continued to offend while under investigation and subject to court orders.

The attempted burglaries had a "bad effect," particularly on one householder and one of her children.

Judge Rowlands said: "He has been before the court at depressing regularity.

"The only mitigation is the guilty plea at the first opportunity and the fact he's still young."

McCue was sentenced for two months for aggravated vehicle taking and was disqualified from driving for two years.

He was also sentenced to 14 months for the attempted burglary which will be served consecutively.

"In total, you will be sentenced to 16 months detention in a young offenders institute," the judge said.