A teenager who stole car keys and drove away the owners' vehicles during a spate of night-time burglaries has been jailed.

The 16-year-old from Bicester breached a court-imposed curfew to commit more burglaries, Banbury Youth Court heard.

The teenager, who cannot be named, admitted breaking into a house in Cypress Gardens, Bicester, and stealing car keys before driving away the owner's Vauxhall Corsa on April 6. He asked for four other burglaries in the Southwold area of Bicester to be taken into consideration.

They included three burglaries in Spruce Drive and one in Sycamore Gardens between April 16 and 26.

The court heard that the items taken included four sets of car keys, three vehicles, two mobile phones, a laptop computer, electrical items, a handbag, credit cards and alcohol.

He was given a 10-month detention and training order.

Carolyn Oakley, prosecuting, said the youth was caught after a member of the public spotted him acting suspiciously around a car stolen in the first burglary and reported the registration number to police.

The court also heard the teenager had a previous conviction for a house burglary and had breached his curfew to commit the first two offences.

Peter Gotch, defending, said: "Group 4 security did not inform the Youth Offending Team about these breaches so they were not able to take action."

He added that the youth was "very remorseful" for what he had done.