A 14-YEAR-OLD boy who drove a man to the brink of suicide by tormenting him, narrowly avoided a custodial sentence yesterday.

The teenager - who cannot be named for legal reasons - carried out a seven-month campaign of terror in Eldon Lane, near Bishop Auckland, last year, which led the man to contemplate killing himself.

Hari Jandoo, prosecuting, told South Durham Youth Court that the boy, with two others, abused the victim in the street, threatened him with a baseball bat and threw bricks through his window.

On one occasion, a lit box of matches was pushed through his letterbox.

On another, the youth told the man: "You can't get rid of us. It doesn't matter where you go, we will find you."

Mr Jandoo said the victim was so alarmed by the attacks he now led an "indoor life".

He told police: "I feel vulnerable because I live on my own and I fear going to bed at night in case they do something to my property. I fear for my life."

Mr Jandoo said the boy, who admitted harassment and breach of a conditional discharge, had another conviction for harassing the man and had shown no remorse.

Gwen Burnett, mitigating, said the youth had psychiatric problems.

Chairwoman of the magistrates' bench, Diana Sutcliff, said the bench had considered a custodial sentence.

Instead, he was placed under a two-year supervision order and a five-year restraining order in relation to the victim.

The adult involved in the abuse pleaded guilty to harassment in October and was sentenced to 200 hours' community service as well as being placed under a lifetime restraining order in relation to the victim.

A 13-year-old boy was given a nine-month referral order last month and placed under a restraining order for five years.