TWO teenage boys who persecuted a man each time he left his home, viewed it as a "fun sport", a court heard yesterday.

The 13 and 14-year-old youths, who cannot be named for legal reasons, shouted at him in the street, pushed lit matches through his letterbox and threw eggs at his window.

The offences took place in the village of Eldon Lane, near Bishop Auckland, County Durham.

David Crook, prosecuting, told South Durham Youth Court that the pair and an adult persistently verbally abused and threatened their victim over an eight-month period last year.

At times the victim, who lived alone, faced abuse every time he stepped out of his house, said Mr Crook.

"The effect on this man has been quite devastating. He has been depressed, he has had all sorts of problems as a result of this," he said.

In a diary he kept to record the harassment, the man wrote: "When is this going to end?"

The adult involved, who threatened to run over the victim and hit him with a baseball bat, was described as the ring leader behind the harassment.

Last October, he pleaded guilty to harassment and was sentenced to 200 hours' community service.

He was also placed under a lifetime restraining order in relation to the victim.

The two youths initially denied harassment but yesterday pleaded guilty under the Protection from Harassment Act 1997.

Kevin Ross, mitigating, said the youths had been led by the adult.

Chairman of the magistrates, John Hehir, gave the 13-year-old a nine-month referral order and placed him under a restraining order for five years in relation to the victim. He was ordered to pay £30 prosecution costs.

The 14-year-old, who has offended before, will be sentenced on February 7.