A 16-year-old youth has been sent to a young offenders' centre for 12 months after he admitted petrol bombing a Brighton commuter train.

The teenager, who cannot be named, was one of three youths who hurled Molotov cocktails at a train leaving Moulsecoomb station.

The attack in February started a blaze on one carriage. One man need-ed treatment for cuts from broken glass and an-other for smoke inhalation. Judge Charles Kemp said the attack on a Connex South Central service could have killed someone and branded the incident "disgusting and stupid".

Prosecutor Martin Field told Lewes Crown Court: "Several passengers were injured. The damage to the train was in excess of £3,300.

"Enquiries led to this defendant and two co-defendants being arrested. He at first denied his involvement and then admitted limited involvement, but I understand from his plea that he concedes taking part.

"The three boys met up at about 7pm at this defendant's house. They took a plastic container from the garden shed and went down to a petrol station and bought £2 worth of petrol.

"They were recorded on CCTV. Then they went to an open area and, using a torn up T-shirt and milk bottles, made petrol bombs.

"In interview the defendant, although admitting he was at the scene, said he was not actively participating."

The youth pleaded guilty to arson and being reckless as to whether life was endangered.

He further admitted four burglaries, for which he was caught with DNA and fingerprint evidence, and asked for nine similar offences to be taken into consideration.

Dervla Rowland, defending, said: "My client is a young man who is not particularly articulate. This is a young man of limited ability.

"He is not a danger to the public. He is not given to lighting fires and he did not have a propensity to light fires before this offence."

In giving the order Judge Kemp said: "You and two others played your part in what was a dreadful and disgusting incident."

"People could have been killed by your ridiculous and stupid actions.

"You are young man with no previous findings of guilt but you have gone off the rails.

"You truanted from school and got in with a bad crowd. If you stayed there and got on with lessons you might not be in this serious position."

The two other youths involved were given non-custodial orders at an earlier hearing.