A TEENAGER is behind bars for Christmas after being shopped to police by his father.

Peter Owens dialled 999 when his 16-year-old son, Leon, confessed to attacking a disabled man in the street.

The tearaway later told his youth offending worker that he had almost broken his hand when hitting his victim.

Owens yesterday received a four-month detention and training order after he admitted the April 4 assault.

Joshua Cockburn was given a youth rehabilitation order with 12 months of supervision for handling stolen goods.

Teesside Crown Court heard how a 19-year-old was beaten up and had his mobile telephone and wallet stolen.

The victim – deaf and with speech problems and mentally disabled – later picked out Owens in a identity parade.

Cockburn had debit cards taken during the attack hidden in his sock when he was searched after his arrest two days later.

The 16-year-old, of Coast Road, Hartlepool, admitted handling stolen goods.

He was told by Judge Peter Fox: “Learn your lesson. If you don’t, you’ll be going away next time.”

Owens, now 17, of Stotfold Street, Hartlepool, admitted a charge of assault occasioning actual bodily harm.

He was on bail for criminal damage and the subject of a court order for theft at the time of the late-night attack.

The court heard the teenager was also given a six-month supervision order last year for another assault.

His barrister, Paul Cleasby, told Judge Fox that Owens was finally showing signs of maturing and had stayed out of trouble for the past six months.

Judge Fox told Owens, who will serve two months behind bars and two months in training: “The time has come for you to go away.”

Sue Jacobs, prosecuting, told the court that the victim was walking home from a town centre shop when he was set upon.

Owens was one of two from a group of five youths who grabbed him from behind and punched him in the face and body.

Peter Owens, who has a criminal record for offences of assault in 2007 and 2008, had not long been out of jail The 40st father hit the headlines last year when a four-year sentence he was facing was reduced to 15 months because of his size.

Mr Owens, 40, breached a suspended jail term when he launched a baseball attack on two men who had criticised his son.