AN 11-YEAR-OLD girl appeared in court accompanied by prison guards after being remanded in custody over-night.

The girl, from Great Wakering, was arrested for breaching bail conditions just hours after they had been imposed by Southend Youth Court.

She is charged with seven counts of theft, one of handling stolen goods and one of assault.

She initially appeared before the youth court on Wednesday, when her case was adjourned until February 6.

She was given bail with stringent conditions, including a curfew between 5pm and 5am.

But the youngster called police from a phone box at 7pm that evening, to tell officers she was not at home as ordered and had broken her bail.

She was arrested and remanded in custody at Rayleigh police station.

Yesterday, the youngster was dwarfed by prison guards as she stood in the dock at Southend Magistrates' Court.

She could barely be heard as she confirmed her name and age.

District judge Kevin Gray released the girl on bail, imposing the same conditions.

She must live at home and stay indoors between 5pm and 5am. She must also meet youth offending team members when required.

The case was adjourned until February 6, when a hearing will be held at Southend Youth Court to decide if she is fit to plead to seven of the nine charges.

She has denied theft of a bicycle last September, and stealing a pair of trousers from a Southend store last October.