SPENDING Christmas and New Year behind bars convinced a teenager he ought to get a job and settle down, a court was told yesterday.

Harrogate magistrates heard how Gary Brown, 19, had spent the past three weeks on remand in a young offenders' institution while awaiting sentence after pleading guilty to going equipped for theft by carrying a multi-tool, a light and gloves.

Defence solicitor Geoffrey Rogers said Brown, of King George Road, Ripon - who had been spotted by police with another man on the city's Dallamires Lane industrial estate at 6am on November 9 - had convictions for theft and taking a car without consent, and had broken a curfew condition.

''He had never been in custody before and it appears that the last three weeks have had some positive effect on him," said Mr Rogers.

''He had not been working at the time of the offence, but he tells me he is now determined to get a job and stay out of trouble,''

Brown was made subject to a 12-month community order requiring probation supervision and 150 hours of unpaid work. Costs were set at £55.