THE PARENTS of a teenage tearaway in Westbury told magistrates they were on the verge of giving up.

The 13-year-old boy, who cannot be identified, has committed a string of offences over the past six months including theft, vandalism and assault.

He was one of two boys responsible for causing more than £4,000 damage to Westbury Youth Centre earlier this year.

The teenager admitted a charge of common assault when he appeared in North West Wiltshire Youth Court on Friday.

The charge came after he butted a 16-year-old boy in the face when he refused to give him a cigarette.

Sitting alongside his son, the boy's father said he was reaching the end of his tether.

He said: "I told him one more time and you are out. There was a point last week when I said we had to get him away from Westbury and put him in foster care or a children's home.

"But he has been a bit more helpful since we said that."

Magistrates heard how the teenager butted a 16-year-old boy outside a Westbury newsagents.

Prosecutor Jane Warren said the victim had gone to the One Stop Shop in Queen Square to get cigarettes for a relative.

Noticing his attacker sat on the wall outside with a group of friends he met up with the gang as he came out the door.

When they asked him for a cigarette he refused but the 13-year-old kept asking him, following him down the street and butting him when he refused again.

The teenager was only a week into a supervision order when the assault happened.

Edward Moore, defending, said the teenager had tried to curb his bad behaviour but still knew there was no excuse for the unprovoked attack.

He said: "Since the end of last year he has appeared in court several times.

"His parents are just about at the end of their tether and were prepared to say to social services 'enough is enough, you can have him'.

"Since his arrest last week there has been a change in attitude. Various cogs are beginning to mesh together."

The teenager's parents were ordered to pay £1,000 towards the cost of repairs to Westbury Youth Centre earlier this year.Magistrates ordered the teenager to serve a three-month supervision order for the assault.