Why boy of 17 lived in derelict hotel

Police found the 17-year-old boy, who cannot be named for legal reasons, living rough in a room at the fire-gutted hotel in Sea Road.

He had been expelled from a children's home for inviting a friend back to his room.

At Hastings Magistrates' Court prosecutor Peter Bolwell said: "Short of starving to death, this young man has no options left.

"He breaks into cars and steals things because he has no other way of living. The Crown is extremely concerned about him and the influence he might have on the 13-year-old with whom he has become friends.

"He will continue to commit further offences because he has to. He will carry on stealing just to get by."

The court heard the teenager, who was placed into care as a child by his parents, had broken into cars all over the Bexhill area and taken items such as jackets, gloves, torches and cash.

He pleaded guilty to a number of charges of theft and magistrates were told he would ask for several others to be taken into consideration.

In the meantime, the court was forced to decide whether to release him on bail or remand him in custody while a pre-sentence report is drafted.

"He has been living rough with absolutely no support and these crimes have all come from trying to keep body and soul together," said Jo Holden, defending.

"A 17-year-old sleeping rough in a derelict hotel building, forced to go out and steal to carry on living, is far from ideal.

"Put simply, he should not be in this situation. Now that he is in the court system, we can work closely with him to sort out accommodation and bridging finance."

The court heard the youth had been branded "intentionally homeless" by Rother District Council and was therefore not entitled to housing support.

However, a probation officer said she would help him lodge an appeal against this decision, which would force the local authority to give him bed and breakfast accommodation for 28 days. He would be entitled to further accommodation until the end of January under the "winter rules", said the probation officer. By this time, a more permanent home would hopefully have been found for him.

Magistrates released the youth on conditional bail. Among other things, he will be forced to keep an appointment with Sheltered Housing Action for Hastings (SHAH).

His 13-year-old friend, who was co-accused on some charges, was ordered not to associate with the youth and to attend Hastings Youth Court at a later date for a separate hearing. The Grand Hotel was gutted by fire in February last year after a suspected arson attack.

After the hearing, a council confirmed that those considered "intentionally homeless" are not entitled to housing provision.

He refused to comment further on the case in question.