Protein shakes and mobile phones were among thousands of pounds worth of items stolen by a teenager earlier this year.

The 17-year-old from Romford admitted ransacking five homes in Brentwood when he appeared at Barkingside Youth Court on Wednesday.

The teen made off with goods worth nearly £4,000 in a string of burglaries on Sunday, February 1, in Elizabeth Road, Pilgrims Hatch.

Jewellery, cash and an iPad were among items stolen.

He was later arrested on Monday, February 16, after he had caused “considerable” damage to the properties by smashing rear doors, windows and furniture.

The teen also admitted one charge of attempted burglary at a pub in Romford and asked for nine other burglary offences to be taken into consideration.

He was made subject to a youth rehabilitation order with intensive surveillance supervision, given an electronic curfew for four months and ordered to pay £632 in costs.

Det Con Matthew Wigg said: “The boy thought he could get away with breaking into homes in Brentwood. But at the scene of one of the burglaries our scientific experts found enough DNA evidence to identify the boy and link him to the other crimes.”

He added: “Burglary is an appalling crime but this boy caused more heartbreak by ransacking properties and even destroying furniture such as cupboards and wardrobes as he searched for items to take.

“All the properties were turned upside-down, they needed expensive repairs to doors or windows and the burglaries caused considerable distress to the victims.”