ANY magistrate unsure as to why many people consider our legal system a joke should read our report from York Youth Court.

Twice in successive nights, a 12-year-old boy stole a six-tonne dumper truck and took it for a ride. Along the way he flattened two lampposts and nearly hit a pedestrian.

The court heard he had committed numerous other crimes, including several other motoring offences. So magistrates banned him from driving for five years - by which time he will be 17 and legally entitled to drive for the first time.

You couldn't make it up.

Updated: 10:03 Wednesday, May 19, 2004