A 13-year-old boy who hurled missiles during the height of Bradford's riots has been ordered to apologise to police officers injured in the night of violence.

The teenager, who cannot be named for legal reasons, is thought to be one of the youngest people involved in the city's disturbances and was told it was only his age that spared him a custodial sentence.

Appearing before Bradford Youth Court yesterday, the youngster admitted his part in the violence and said he had got involved because there was "nowt to do". The court heard how the boy jeered at community leaders who were trying to break up the angry mobs in White Abbey Road and was spotted on police video hurling a brick at officers, kicking a beer barrel towards them and picking up stones over a two-hour period. But after his picture was published in the Telegraph & Argus last September, the youngster handed himself in to police.

During a police interview he admitted he may have thrown up to five stones.

He said: "I should not have done it. I was in the wrong. No one forced me. I just wanted to throw them."

Yesterday, chairman of the bench Roger Davy ordered the youngster to undertake a reparation order for 24 hours - including apologising to officers hurt in the violence - and his family was told to pay £300 court costs. His mother was in court with him.

Mr Davy told the teenager: "You will come face to face with some of the people who you hurt on this night, mentally and perhaps physically."

The court heard how the police came under a "heavy barrage" of petrol bombs, bricks, fireworks and stones on the July 7 disorder.

Mitigating, Glen Chivers said the boy knew he had let down his family who were disappointed to see and hear him ignore his community's elders.

Mr Davy told the court: "I'm sure this whole court has been extremely disturbed by what we have seen. This sort of behaviour is not acceptable in this city or any other city."

"We have to take into account the aggravating features of the offence, particularly the fact you voluntarily joined in the disturbances.

"You were conspicuous over a two-hour period at the forefront of the disturbance and you were not prepared to take into account the advice of your leaders who bravely attempted to calm the situation."