A TEENAGE boy has been locked up after he forced his way into a tower block flat armed with a knife.

The 17-year-old, from Leigh, targeted the home in Brecon flats, Salisbury Avenue, Westcliff, while the terrified householder was inside.

The incident happened at 9pm on November 17.

Keith Rylands, prosecuting, said the victim was accused of having the boy’s Xbox and this had led to the victim’s home being raided.

Yesterday the boy, who cannot be named for legal reasons, appeared at Southend Youth Court where he pleaded guilty to using violence to secure entry to a premises and possession of a knife.

The youngster told the court: “It was out of character for me and stupid. I shouldn’t really have done it.”

The court also heard he had been bullied at school, and would struggle to cope in prison. But he was hoping to go to university and pursue a career in art.

His mother told the court: “He is painfully shy and it does come across a little bit as arrogance. I’m really proud of him that he stayed in school and it’s quite a drop to go from looking at prospectuses to go to university, to being here today.

“I believe in him. It’s so out of character for him – he’s gentle and polite.”

However, Ian Kirby, chairman of the bench, said they had no option but to send the boy to a young offenders’ institution for four months.

He told the boy’s parents: “I’m very sorry. We looked long and hard at the case of keeping him out, but this is just too serious.”