THE father of a 13-year-old tearaway who terrorised emergency services has criticised the lack of professional help for his son.

Last week, the Bradford on Avon teenager, who cannot be named for legal reasons, was sent to a detention centre to protect the public.

Magistrates heard how the boy had made hoax bomb and 999 calls and drove an ambulance between two west Wiltshire towns.

Other crimes included theft and criminal damage.

Although not defending his son's actions, the teenager's dad is disgusted by the lack of support services which, he feels, caused behavioural problems to spiral out of control.

He said: "I believe he is a danger to the emergency services.

"His obsession can be accredited to his mental state.

"For not one second do I defend his crimes.

"What he has done has been completely stupid, thoughtless, disrespectful and illegal I make no bones about it.

"But the boy needs professional help. He has been diagnosed as having a mental disorder.

"He needs therapy and counselling, which his grandparents and I have been trying to get for a long, long time."

After he was expelled from school, the boy's family claims it took the education department at Wiltshire County Council six months to examine his case and it took five months for his dad to get an appointment with the headteacher.

He said: "It was up to the education department to find a suitable school to take the boy, especially a boy with emotional behavioural problems, special education needs and ADHD (Attention Deficit Hy-peractivity Disorder). It took ten months. Why did it take such a long time?"

During this long wait, the teenager's dad said his son did not have enough to occupy him which could have caused the repeat offending.

The 13-year-old has committed more than a dozen crimes in the last five months.

His dad said: "He is paying for his crimes now.

"I hope with all my heart he receives the help he needs while in the detention centre and when he comes home.

"We all love him dearly. We all feel ashamed and embarrassed, but will not turn our back on him."

A Wiltshire County Council spokesman said they did not comment on individual cases.

"Wiltshire County Council has a responsibility to support young people with very challenging behaviour who are at risk of being excluded or have been excluded.

"The authority works hard to ensure the educational needs of these children are met in all areas," the spokesman explained.