A SOUTHAMPTON teenager opted to go to prison rather than complete a community service order because he felt others on it were mocking him, the city crown court heard.

James Moody had been given the 150-hour course as well as a fourmonth suspended sentence in October for breaching an antisocial behaviour order and assault when he and friends beat up a youth at a Testwood recreational ground.

But the jobless 18-year-old refused to do the work, said prosecutor Mark Balysz. When he was persuaded to do, he stood around chatting.

Since the order had been imposed, James had also broken into two cars to steal CDs.

Sending him to a young offenders' institution for 18 weeks, Judge Tom Longbotham said he had been made progress in relation to his alcohol and drug misuse but he was still committing offences and there was no prospect of the order being completed.