A BOY stole a taxi driver's takings after distracting him for a matter of seconds, Swindon Youth Court heard.

The 16-year-old approached the victim as he sat in his car outside a chip shop in Pinehurst.

Prosecutor Stacey Turner said the driver had only just got back into the car after buying his lunch when the boy, who cannot be named, walked up to the open car window and asked the time.

The man looked across to the clock, and when he turned back he saw the boy running off with his money bag with £50 to £60 in fares.

The boy, who was appearing before the magistrates after breaching a supervision order imposed for the theft and another offence of common assault, later told police he had given some of the cash away and spent the rest. He burned the bag.

Magistrates imposed a reparation order for 22 hours, which means the boy will have to do unpaid work benefiting the community.