The youngest burglar in Sussex to be locked up has been let out after serving less than two weeks of her ten-month sentence.

The 12-year-old girl, who cannot be named for legal reasons, had committed a string of petty crimes and had been known to the police for years.

Magistrates at Worthing Youth Court sentenced her to ten months in a secure unit after she conned her way into a pensioner's house by pretending to be concerned about the lady's cat and stole a purse containing £40 and bank cards.

The youngster, from Littlehampton, won her appeal at Chichester Crown Court on November 24 and was released from the unit in the South-West.

She is now on a six-month intensive support and surveillance programme (ISSP) which includes community service, a twice-daily check-in with support staff and an 8pm curfew.

Police officers had been called out to deal with the girl 30 times since April because she had persistently been reported missing.

They were working with schools and youth groups to try to curb her behaviour before she was found guilty of burglary.

The ten-month sentence was thought to be the longest detention for a youngster convicted of such a crime.

Chief Inspector Mark Hammond, who praised magistrates when the girl was sentenced, said: "I cannot comment on the actions of the court. I just hope they have done the right thing."

The 12-year-old is the youngest offender the programme, funded by the Youth Justice Board, has taken on in West Sussex.

Gill Clark, ISSP coordinator, said: "It's a very tough programme, it's by no means the easy option."

The programme constitutes 25 hours a week and can include anger management sessions and drugs and alcohol support.