MOTORISTS in the Stratford area can breathe a sigh of relief after Stratford magistrates finally locked up a 15-year-old habitual car thief.

Police have been tearing their hair out after repeatedly arresting the youth, who cannot be named for legal reasons, only to see him bailed and offending again.

He was sentenced to 12 months' youth detention on February 16.

Stratford's Inspector Chris Ward said: "He was charged with 15 offences dating back to last November. One day last December he was arrested for breach of bail conditions and arrested again later the same day on conspiracy to steal motor vehicles."

The youth's catalogue of crime in and around Stratford included theft of a motor vehicle, criminal damage, burglary, assault, driving while disqualified, dangerous driving and several bail breaches.

Inspector Ward said he did not blame magistrates for repeatedly bailing the youth because, as the law stands now, they do not have power to detain juvenile offenders in custody until they are sentenced.

He said: "Anything that removes persistent offenders from activity has got to benefit the area. My job is first and foremost to bring these people to justice."

He said he welcomed Home Secretary Jack Straw's announcement in the House of Commons this week in which he outlined his intention to give courts additional powers to deal with "bail bandits".

Amendments to the Criminal Justice and Police Bill will allow courts to remand persistent offenders to secure accommodation, give courts the option of electronic tagging for juveniles on bail and to allow them to be placed in secure training centres.