An 11-year-old boy took part in a burglary in which a family's house was trashed and three fish killed.

A gang of youths broke into a house in Gloucester Street, Brighton, while the family living there was away staying with relatives.

The gang trashed the house and killed three of the family's pet fish. One was stamped on, another burnt with an iron and a third found in a frying pan on the cooker.

Food and drink was thrown at the walls and furniture and CDs were smashed. Every cupboard and wardrobe was emptied and its contents covered in food.

The family's hamster was let out and sawdust from its cage stuffed into the video.

Pictures on the walls were broken, the fridge-freezer and laptop computer were damaged and crockery smashed.

There was human excrement on the lounge floor and beds had been soiled upstairs.

The sofa was ripped and stained and burnt with cigarettes. There were also bleach stains, food marks and cigarette burns on the carpet.

The boy, who lives in the city, admitted charges of burglary and criminal damage at Brighton Youth Court yesterday.

Mark Smith, prosecuting, said the victim, Tracey Woolgar, a mother-of-two, had told police she was angry and upset and had felt unsafe in her home since the burglary.

The court heard two other boys, aged 15 and 16, had also been charged in connection with the burglary. Their cases are due to be heard at a later date. A fourth boy was cautioned by police.

Julian Dale, defending the 11-year-old, described the burglary as mean and nasty and said the boy felt remorse.

He said the boy, who has no previous convictions, had been punished at home by his mother. He was grounded for eight weeks and banned from going to youth clubs. His computer and video recorder had been taken away.

He had apologised to Ms Woolgar and offered to help clean up the mess. His offer was turned down.

The court heard the boy admitted his part in the crime involved damaging the floors and furniture by throwing cooking oil, breakfast cereal and gravy granules over them.

He admitted being present when the hamster was covered in egg and then washed and when two fish were killed.

The boy was made the subject of a seven-month referral order. He will have to attend meetings set up by the Youth Offending Team.