THE nation’s worst teenage tearaway was nicked by police 153 times before his 18th birthday.
A Sun on Sunday probe found there are 25 child criminals who have been arrested 50 times or more.
Essex was the worst for prolific youth offenders with the top three all from the county — each detained more than 100 times — and six in the top ten.
South Yorkshire overall had five children with 50 or more arrests, with the worst offender having their collar felt 94 times between the ages of 12 and 14.
The shocking figures also reveal kids are being nicked for serious crimes including making murder threats, arson, sex offences, drugs and burglaries.
One 17-year-old in Kent has 56 arrests including for stalking, sex offences, making death threats and having a knife.
And a youth in Suffolk was held 76 times between the ages of 12 and 17 for racially-motivated crimes, assaults and strangulation.
The Sun on Sunday made Freedom of Information requests to all 43 police forces in England and Wales.
Several said they were unable to reply due to data protection, while at least four — including London’s Met — had no kids arrested more than 50 times.
Retired Sussex Police Det Chief Supt Kevin Moore said: “Unfortunately, the figures do not surprise me at all. For far too long there has been a lack of an effective sanction for juvenile offenders.
“Youths realise they can offend with impunity as there is little likelihood of a custodial sentence.
“We need to get a grip of this. Custody is a deterrent.”
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