CREDIT cards were stolen from a teacher who was giving special help to backward pupils, magistrates have heard.

The cards were in a wallet, in a jacket hanging on a chair, prosecutor Liz Tweed told a Kidderminster youth court.

The wallet vanished in the lunch hour.

A 16-year-old boy who admitted stealing the cards and attempting to use one of them to buy cigarettes and groceries later in the day was sentenced to four months detention.

"You have persisted in offending," magistrate Shirley Fordham told him.

"You are your own worst enemy."

The boy admitted obstructing police when he ran away while he was being questioned.

He also admitted being in possession of heroin when police searched his home and driving while banned and without insurance.

He had done well under supervision, said his solicitor, Ruth Edwards.

He had tended to be over-confident and had returned to drugs after successfully completing a four-week detoxification course.