A MOTHER yesterday expressed relief that her 13-year-old son has been locked up for joyriding.

The boy, who cannot be named for legal reasons, became one of Britain's youngest joyriders in 2003, when he was 11.

Yesterday, he was jailed for six months by Newcastle magistrates who heard that he drove a stolen Vauxhall Astra down the wrong carriageway of Whickham View, in Scotswood, Newcastle, at 8am on April 25.

After nearly colliding with a police patrol car, he drove into a line of incoming traffic, forcing other drivers to swerve out his way.

He swung into Delaval Way, climbed into the passenger seat and jumped out of the moving car.

At a youth court hearing, the boy pleaded guilty to attempted theft, aggravated vehicle taking, driving while disqualified and having no licence and no insurance. He was given a six-month detention and training order, a driving ban and six penalty points.

This is the third time he has been banned from driving - even though he cannot legally get behind a wheel for another four years.

It is his second custodial sentence, having just served a four-month term for joyriding last November.

The boy's mother, who was in court, said later that she was relieved he had been detained.

"It'll keep him out of trouble I suppose, he gets involved in all sorts, so it's good he'll be out of that for a while.

"We actually thought he'd get longer, 12 months or maybe more.

"It's probably a good thing, last year he ended up in intensive care after a bike accident, at least now he'll be out of trouble and safe."