THEFT victim Ken Day says he was left "feeling like a criminal" himself when he tried to see justice done in court.

The York taxi driver had been told he could go to see what happened to the teenage tearaway who snatched his wallet containing more than £600 from his cab.

Mr Day says he was left fuming when an official ordered him to leave York youth court, even though he had been invited to attend in a letter from North Yorkshire Police.

To add insult to injury, when the 14-year-old thief was dealt with for a string of offences including assault, disorder and theft, the cabbie was not given any compensation because the money had been spent in less than two weeks.

Mr Day, 58, said when he turned up at youth court yesterday, officials and security guards showed him to the court where he waited for two hours. But then he was abruptly told to leave by a male court official.

"I said, 'hold on, I'm the victim not the defendant'," said Mr Day, from Acomb.

"All I was going by was the letter," he said.

Police bosses have now launched an inquiry into the administrative blunder, which they believe may have been caused by the wrong standard letter template being sent out. While adult court is open to the public, youth courts are closed.

In court the youngster admitted to a public order offence, an assault and another theft and was sentenced to a one-year supervision order by magistrates.

Presiding magistrate Pamela Middlebrook told him: "This was a spur-of-the-moment offence and you really must not do that because it just ends up with more trouble. It's silly."

Acting deputy clerk David Brown said the youth court is not open to members of the public.

He added that if Mr Day complained formally a full investigation into his treatment would take place.

Mr Day said: "The police are calling for people to come and help them with information, but when you do you get kicked in the teeth and thrown off the premises."

North Yorkshire Police were led to the youth by an Evening Press reader who saw an article in the paper last week about Mr Day's plight and knew of the youth's involvement in the theft of cash and important personal documents.

Updated: 11:20 Wednesday, October 29, 2003