A FIFTY-three-year-old Birmingham man has become one of the oldest rioters to appear in court.

David King pleaded guilty to trying to steal scratch cards from a newsagents in the city centre yesterday.

The court heard he had no previous criminal record.

But magistrates took a tough line and remanded him in custody and sent him to crown court for sentence.

King, of Bristol Road, Selly Oak, admitted entering as a trespasser Co-op News on the Aston University campus on Tuesday, August 9, with intent to steal.

Karen Cockitt, prosecuting, said looters smashed through the newsagent’s door, windows and shutters and ransacked the premises. Miss Cockitt said King told police he had nothing to do with the damage to the shop, but admitted watching and then going in to look for scratch cards.

He was arrested after a PCSO recognised him from CCTV images at the scene.

King tested positive for cocaine. He denied taking drugs, but admitted he was an alcoholic.

Ron Parker, defending, said his client had gone into the city centre with a friend “for a lawful purpose” and while there, saw the riots unfolding.

“He should have gone home, but he stayed out of curiosity, followed the riots and ended up at Aston University,” he said.

“His friend asked him to go into the newsagent’s and get him some scratch cards, which he did, but couldn’t find any.

“He was only in there for 30 seconds and left. He admitted what he did to police straight away.”

Meanwhile a 13-year-old boy has been locked up for the first time after he told Birmingham Youth Court he “got carried away with the riot”.

The teenager, who cannot be named for legal reasons, was given six months’ detention and training after he pleaded guilty to affray.

It also emerged at court yesterday that the baby-faced yob, of Stechford, had a string of previous convictions from the last 12 months.

During the hearing, he admitted breaching a 12-month Youth Rehabilitation Order.

The order was made after he made a threat that he was carrying a knife and stole a mobile phone.

The youth also graffitied his tag in the entrance to Steelhouse Lane police station, stole DVDs from a supermarket and aftershave from House of Fraser.

David Curtis, prosecuting, said the boy had been part of a group in New Street who stormed the Halifax and nearby Santander on August 8.

The group entered the bank, but the youth stayed by the entrance.

During the hearing the boy, who wore blue jeans and trainers, told District Judge Jan Jellema: “I am sorry, I got carried away with the riot.”