A TEENAGER who was kicked out of his family’s Peterlee home landed in court after repeatedly sleeping next to the shed outside.

Luke Pearson, who turned 18 in February, was asked to leave five weeks ago by his mother, who found drugs in his bedroom.

Magistrates in Newton Aycliffe heard the homeless teen stayed away for two weeks but in the last three weeks had turned up to the property almost every day.

Holly Common, prosecuting, said his mother found him on several occasions sleeping by the back door, by the shed in the back garden.

On two occasions she let him in but on the second he refused to leave, and police were called.

Ms Common said on Sunday he was seen again by the shed and an hour later was heard shouting “help” through the letterbox.

When police arrived he threatened to “do something” in order to get locked up and was hitting his foot against the wall.

Pearson, who works as a chicken catcher, pleaded guilty to one count of harassment without violence. A probation officer told the court problems between Pearson and his family stemmed from an undergoing drugs-related investigation.

The court heard his mum kicked him out two months ago because she wanted to “protect” her other children.

She described him as a “frightened, vulnerable young man with very little life skills”.

Chairman of the bench Patrick Langdon handed Pearson a nine-month community order with a requirement to take part in ten rehabilitation days.

Speaking on Monday, he said: “We think you committed this offence because of the desperate situation you’re in, and the probation service exists to help you.”

No order of costs was made but Pearson was ordered to pay an £85 victim surcharge.