NOTORIOUS teenage criminal Shaun McKerry was behind bars again last night after admitting two new offences only three days after being given a "last chance" by magistrates.

The 18-year-old, dubbed Homing Pigeon Boy because of his habit of returning home after committing crimes, has now started a five-month sentence in a young offenders' institution after being involved in a raid on a clothing shop.

McKerry was granted bail after admitting theft on Monday, but was picked up by police just over 48 hours later on Wednesday night.

The court heard how he had agreed to help with the raid at 183 Designer Wear in Newgate Street, Bishop Auckland, County Durham, after getting into a car with two acquaintances.

The car pulled up outside the shop and McKerry and one of the others went inside and grabbed a number of pairs of jeans before getting back in the stolen vehicle.

The car was later found abandoned near Leasingthorne Quarry, near Coundon and McKerry and one of the men he was with were picked up by police after they were spotted running towards the Leeholme Road area of Coundon.

Magistrates in Newton Aycliffe, County Durham, heard how McKerry, from Benbow Walk, Coundon, near Bishop Auckland, also damaged the exercise yard at Bishop Auckland police s tation in temper.

McKerry admitted theft of 17 pairs of jeans, allowing himself to be carried in a stolen vehicle and causing criminal damage.

Defence solicitor Clive Booth, said McKerry decided, once he was arrested, to tell the police everything.

"He decided to own up to everything that he had done, even though at that stage the police did not have sufficient evidence to charge him.''

On the damage to the police station exercise yard, Mr Booth said the outburst had been out of anger against himself. He said: "He tells me he was absolutely disgusted with himself for throwing away the chance the court had given him.''

Last night, Norman Brennan, director of the national Victims of Crime Trust, criticised magistrates for allowing McKerry to carry on with his one-man crime-spree.

He said: "The courts have constantly allowed a person who has become a blight on society the opportunity to commit crime after crime.

"It is my opinion that they have failed to protect society and they have failed to send out the message to him and other persistent offenders that their behaviour is unacceptable.''

As news of his arrest filtered through to the small community of Coundon, county councillor Phil Graham, said people despaired of what to do about the teenager who has been arrested more than 80 times since 1995.

Coun Graham said: "I think we need to look at other ways of dealing with Shaun McKerry. The system is failing him, his family and the community. I despair for Shaun and I despair for his family."

Detective Inspector Bruce Turnbull, of Bishop Auckland police, agreed that McKerry, who has stolen in the past to feed a drug habit, needed help. He said: "He needs help with his drug problem. He needs some direction and guidance to stop his offending."

McKerry's record of crime

March 1999 McKerry walks free from court after being given another chance, despite a report on his behaviour saying he was a danger to the public and himself. He was sentenced to four months in a young offenders' institution.

May 1999 McKerry is arrested in connection with the theft of a car.

February 2000 McKerry and Scott Butler rob Leeholme village post office wearing balaclava masks. On the same day The Northern Echo wins its fight to publicly reveal the teenager's identity.

August 2000 McKerry is sentenced to four years in a young offenders' institution for robbing a village postmaster at knifepoint in Leeholme. His sentence was cut following an appeal. He was released in September 2001.

September 2001 McKerry arrested three times in 11 days after being freed from a young offenders' institution.

He is arrested twice for stealing from shops in Spennymoor and Bishop Auckland and a third time for breaking a curfew which is part of his bail condition.

On the third time he puts up such a struggle that he is charged with assaulting three police officers.

February 26, 2002 McKerry is given a last chance for a fresh start after he admitted two charges of theft and one of possession of cannabis.

Four days later he is starting a five-month sentence in a young offenders' institution.