A BRAMPTON teenager who told a couple he would petrol-bomb their home has walked free after he told magistrates: "I've changed."

The 17-year-old had faced possibly being locked up after he entered guilty pleas to a raft of offences, including the petrol bomb threat, the theft of a moped in Carlisle, and the latest in a series of ten breaches of the Criminal Behaviour Order which was meant to curb his antisocial behaviour.

But magistrates at Carlisle's Youth Court drew back from custody after they were told the teenager was turning his life around and has landed his first first full-time job.

Prosecutor John Moran outlined the background to the threatening behaviour offence.

It happened on August 15 last year after the youth encountered the couple who became his victim in a Brampton street.

The woman expressed concern that the youth had made unpleasant allegations about her and her partner to a local health professional, suggesting that they had taken drugs.

He responded aggressively, telling her : "I'll get your house petrol-bombed with you and your kids in it." The teenager also threatened to punch her partner and said he would smash her windows. A short time later, he again threatened violence and vowed to smash her house windows.

Mr Moran said: "This caused distress to the victims. Initially it was denied. The guilty plea was entered on the day of trail. Because of his threats, the woman installed a firebomb-proof letter box at her property. That's how seriously she has taken this threat."

The theft offence happened on June 16 last year.

The teenager was with two friends when the trio forced a 17-year-old Carlisle boy to hand over an £850 moped. One of the trio - a 15-year-old boy - showed the victim part of a knife he was carrying before telling the youth to hand over the moped - though the youth involved denied he had a knife.

The teenager before the court was the one who rode off on the bike with his friends.

Mr Moran prosecutor went on to outline the two breaches of the defendant's Criminal Behaviour Order. The first, on September 23 last year, when he was seen near to Brampton Community Centre - despite the court order banning him from entering the town centre.

He breached the order again on September 8.

An off-duty officer saw him in the passenger seat of a car that was being driven through a part of the town from which he is also banned. Mr Moran said: "There have been eight previous breaches of the order, so these offences are breaches nine and ten."

Anthony Wilson, for the defendant, said the youth deeply regretted threatening the couple. Commenting on the two breaches of his Criminal Behaviour Order, the lawyer said the teenager had not threatened anybody or caused distress. "You will see from the [background] report that he is genuinely remorseful about the things he has done.

"But his best mitigation is that he has got job. I wonder whether that will be a way of stopping him committing offences in the future. It will be the first time he has had a job so that he is not going to be just hanging around aimlessly in Brampton, causing trouble."

The teenager told magistrates: "I feel happier now.

"I feel better in myself and I'm not hanging around with the same people... I feel I've changed from what I was. If something happens now I take a step back and assess it. I'm maturing. I've got a good role model."

The boy's father agreed.

He said: "In the last couple of months he's been really good... and he's looking forward to this job. I think it really will keep him out of trouble."

Magistrates imposed a 12 month 'intensive' youth rehabilitation order, with a three month overnight curfew and rehabilitation activity. They also imposed a 12 month restraining order, banning any contact with the couple he threatened. He must also pay £100 compensation to the owner of the moped he stole.

"We believe there are genuine signs that you are planning a productive future," the presiding magistrate told the teenager.