A 12-year-old boy who thought he had "immunity" from being locked-up has become one of the country's youngest prisoners.
The child, who is responsible for more than 30 crimes, was detained for 10 months yesterday after attacking two care workers and taking a sports car for a joyride.
Magistrates at Witham Youth Court in Essex were told that he had continued his ofending in the past believing that he could not be jailed because of limiting sentencing options.
Magistrates said they had "no problem" sending the youngster to custody but refused an application by journalists to name him arguing he was "too young and vulnerable".
As of December there were just seven children aged 12 in detention and children aged 10 or 11 are not normally sent to custody unless they are guilty of very grave offences.
As a result the youngster had previously avoided being locked-up for a string of crimes but the court in Essex were told the boy could finally be given a detention order as he pleaded guilty to the attacks and taking the Audi TT without consent on his 12th birthday.
Ian Fuller, chairman of the bench, told the boy: "This was your third aggravated vehicle taking in 14 months. You have many, many previous convictions for assault.
"You have breached many court orders that were given to you in the past. Many of your offences have been committed whilst on bail. We have no problem sending you into custody."