A 13-YEAR-OLD boy said to exploit his "young and innocent appearance" to prey on old people has been remanded in custody accused of burgling a pensioner's purse on New Year's Eve.

The slightly-built teenager was led off in handcuffs after Bradford and Keighley magistrates yesterday heard that people in the community could take the law into their own hands if he remained at large.

The boy, who cannot be identified for legal reasons, had no home to go to because his mother did not want him at her Bradford address, the court was told.

He was released from custody on Christmas Eve after serving an eight month Detention Training Order for offences of house burglary.

Prosecutor Paul Ramsay said the boy was a cannabis addict and had three convictions for breaching an anti-social behaviour order.

He now faces a new offence of burgling an elderly woman's purse on December 31 and two more counts of attempted house burglary on the same day.

Mr Ramsay said his three alleged victims were 60, 84, and in their 90s.

The court was told the fair-haired boy, who wore a bright blue T-shirt for his court appearance, targets elderly people.

"He uses his young and innocent appearance and small stature to lull his victims into a false sense of security," Mr Ramsay said.

It is alleged the boy breached his licence conditions by not staying at his mother's home and by committing further offences.

"The only way to ensure he doesn't prey on elderly people in the community is to remand him to a secure unit.

"If he conducts himself in this manner, local residents may take the law into their own hands," Mr Ramsay told the court.

He said the teenager's mother had no control over him.

She was angry and upset with her son and he was no longer welcome at her home.

Mr Ramsay applied for the boy to be remanded in custody until the next Bradford Youth Court, on Tuesday.

He said the allegations he faced could attract a prison sentence of at least 14 years for an adult offender.

A representative from the Youth Offending Team said it could not find the boy a suitable alternative address at this time.

No application for bail was made and he was remanded to a secure unit until January 6.