A 17-YEAR-OLD who stole a car told police he did it because he was bored.

The youth then refused to supply a blood sample to police who suspected he had been under the influence of drugs.

The boy from Hoole, who cannot be named, was living with his stepmother when he took the car while she was sleeping. The vehicle belonged to her son.

At 1.30am a man in Kingsway reported a loud bang outside his house.

Prosecutor Mairead Neeson said: “He looked out of the window and noticed a Vauxhall Tigra had collided with some railings.

“Police saw (the defendant) running away. When they caught him the keys were found in his possession.

“He told police the reason he did it was because he was bored.”

Police, suspecting he was under the influence of drugs, requested a blood sample at Blacon Custody Suite but he refused.

Defending solicitor Michael Gray said his client’s “fear of needles” was responsible for his refusal to be tested.

He said: “There are problems in (the defendant’s) life which are complicated which the youth offending team are working very hard to address.”

He pleaded guilty to taking the Vauxhall Tigra without the owner’s consent and damaging it, driving without a licence or insurance and failing to supply a blood sample

The boy had committed the offence in breach of a curfew order imposed for another offence.

Chair Susan Campbell remanded him in custody for a pre-sentence report to be compiled for a hearing on February 7.