A MALVERN schoolboy took part in a mugging which left an elderly woman in hospital with severe injuries, Droitwich youth court heard this week.

Magistrates placed the 11-year-old, who cannot be named for legal reasons, on a 12-month supervision order and told his mother to pay £155 compensation.

At the hearing on Wednesday, the boy admitted two robberies, three burglaries, two thefts and using threatening and abusive behaviour.

Prosecutor Mike Cowley told the court that on Tuesday, August 14, the boy was with friends who emptied another boy's backpack.

"The defendant took a hooded coat from the backpack after it was emptied on the ground, and gave it away a few days later," he said.

The next day, the boy and others took part in the mugging, which left pensioner Eileen Shambrook in hospital with a brain haemorrhage and a fractured hip.

Mr Cowley said: "Mrs Shambrook and a friend had been to Safeway to do some shopping.

"At 3pm the women were walking towards Goodson Road and, as they climbed some steps, they saw young men climbing up the bank. The defendant put his hand on the shopping of Mrs Shambrook's friend.

"She swung her trolley round to stop the defendant but then says she heard Mrs Shambrook screaming and lying on her back. The two boys were then seen running towards nearby woods."

During a two-day crime spree, the boy and others also took part in break-ins at the Chase, Malvern Primary and Grove Infants schools.

Nick Roberts, for the boy, said his client had been on the periphery of the crime "binge".

The boy's mother had warned the authorities that her son's behavioural problems would see him involved with the wrong people.

"The other boys were far more involved in the crimes. My client is very sorry for what he did. He has not offended since and his medication seems to have changed and hopefully stabilised him."