Police 'too busy' to charge serial teenage tearaway

A TEENAGER has avoided jail because police did not have time to take action against him over a series of crimes.

- Paul Jeeves

Repeated cautions gave Robert Ellis the impression he could get away with offending, a court heard.

He was held on eight occasions by Northumbria Police officers but released without criminal charges.

When he finally appeared before court, he was blasted by Judge Rippon but escaped a jail term because "astonishingly" it was his first offence.

Ellis, right, had received eight cautions for offences including burglary, criminal damage, threatening behaviour, attempted theft, shoplifting, theft from a motor vehicle and possessing cannabis.