AN 11-year-old boy with a string of court appearances has become one of the youngest people to be banned from driving - even though he cannot legally get behind the wheel of a car for another six years.

The Tyneside boy, who is less than 4ft tall, is starting a year's driving ban after taking a Ford Granada and smashing it into a wall.

He admitted aggravated vehicle-taking and theft of a hammer when he appeared before magistrates in Gosforth.

Bizarrely, he was given a ban to serve immediately. By the time he is legally old enough to drive he will have served his punishment.

Last night, his mother, who cannot be named for legal reasons, said she expected him to end up in jail.

She said: "He's down the police station that many times and he's been in court at least five times, maybe more. With the school holidays started now, it's the worse time. I think it excites him when the police come round, and that's what worries me."

In addition to his driving ban, the magistrates also put the boy on a three-month action plan by the Youth Offending Team.

The boy's favourite past-time is playing the notorious video game Grand Theft Auto on his PlayStation 2.

He said: "You can pinch a car, and then drive it to get to another car and then get out and take the second car.

"You can even take a car off the police or you can just smash into them. And then you can make them drive at dead fast speeds."