But the 15-year-old Warrnambool boy has a testing three months ahead — if he reoffends a magistrate has guaranteed he will be sentenced to serve six months.

The youth, who cannot be identified for legal reasons, pleaded guilty in a court this week to assaulting another youth.

On Wednesday night he broke into a social worker’s office and stole a digital camera and $300.

The magistrate said the offences merited a term of detention and the youth had not complied with just about any orders in the past.

Such was the magistrate’s and the police prosecutor’s scepticism about the boy being able to stay out of trouble that his bail was extended for only one week.

The magistrate said if there was any absconding, or he committed any offences, then the youth would return to court and be sentenced as soon as possible.

The boy was given the choice of serving an immediate three months in detention or being released on bail with the condition that if he did not stay out of trouble he would be sentenced to serve six months in youth detention.

“You get your one last chance, but it’s double or nothing,” the magistrate said.

Police said that on November 11 last year the youth punched another boy near Warrnambool’s Target store.

He then twice failed to answer his bail, but police caught up with him with a warrant in Melbourne and he went into secure custody for almost a fortnight.

On Wednesday he returned to the south-west and broke into the social worker’s office.

The youth denied any knowledge of the stolen cash, which was found in his bedroom.