A TEENAGER who stole a mobile phone from a house party and then had a friend sell it for cash at a second-hand store was told by a judge he was being given a “final chance”.

Danny Andrews fraudulently traded in the phone for £57, having his friend give his details to the store in question.

The 19-year-old, of Harlech Walk, Hartlepool, was serving a community order at the time of the June 7 offence after being given a suspended jail sentence for an offence of burglary last August.

Teesside Crown Court heard how the owner had since received the mobile back. Andrews admitted theft and fraud.

Judge Michael Taylor said had Andrews committed another burglary, instead of theft, he would be going to prison.

Instead he ordered the teenager do 120 hours unpaid work.

Judge Taylor said: “Keep in touch with the probation service and attend your appointments. If you don’t you will come back here and be locked up.”