A NORTHWICH schoolboy has pleaded guilty to theft.

The 14-year-old defendant, who cannot be named for legal reasons, admitted stealing two MP3 players from Tesco at Manchester Road on December 21 when he appeared before Vale Royal Youth Court on Wednesday.

Magistrates expressed their concern that he had used his nine-year-old brother as an accomplice, hiding the stolen goods in a carrier bag the younger sibling was holding in an attempt to conceal the items from view as the pair left the store.

The defendant, who had previously been given a reprimand and official warning for offences of theft, was put on a three-month referral order.