A BOY of 13 told a judge he was ashamed of breaking into a house with friends.

The boy, who cannot be named because he is under 18, was caught after the mother of one of the gang because suspicious when he came home with money, an iPhone 5 and a penknife.

The youth court heard the victim had been distraught at the burglary at a house in Windsor Road in October 2017, three days before they got married.

"I felt helpless during what should have been a happy time. I didn’t feel safe or comfortable in my own home any more.

"I became paranoid and any noise makes me agitated," they said in a personal statement.

DNA from the defendant, who admitted burglary and theft, was found on a glass inside the property. He was given a 12-month referral order.

He told the court: "I’ve spoken to the victim. I’m ashamed of myself for thinking I could do something like that."