A BOY of 14 caught riding a stolen motorbike in the early hours of the morning told magistrates he would probably have spent the night out in the open if he had not been stopped by police.

The youngster claimed to have found the 125cc Honda propped up against a tree, but Swindon Youth Court heard it had been stolen from outside a block of flats in Greenmeadow.

He admitted taking it without consent and was made the subject of a four-month referral order.

Prosecutor Rhys Davies said the boy, who cannot be named for legal reasons, was recognised by police officers patrolling in Abbeymeads, who spotted him and another 14-year-old riding without helmets.

As he realised they had been seen, the boy lost control of the machine and skidded on the pavement.

His pillion passenger was arrested but he ran off, the bench heard. When he was eventually arrested he told police he had only run off because he thought he had collided with them when they appeared out of the bushes.

He explained he had found the motorcycle already hotwired, had taken it for a ride and picked up his friend on the way.

He added that the boy had no previous convictions but had been reprimanded in 2000 and warned in 2002 for stealing cycles.

Stephen Weighell, defending, said the youth, who is in care, was adamant that he had not stolen the bike but had found it in a wood often used by joyriders for dumping stolen vehicles.

The court heard he had previously been made the subject of an acceptable behaviour contract a year before.

He was suffering from Attention Deficit Disorder and there were concerns that as well as not taking his medication on a regular basis, he was sniffing petrol.

He was given a four months referred order to the Youth Offending Team.

His pillion passenger was given a 10-week tagging order earlier hearing.