One of the most prolific criminals in the Midlands is the son of a British National Party councillor, it was revealed.

Teenage offender Ricky Lloyd, who has been committing crimes since he was 12, is in custody awaiting sentencing for attempted robbery.

It emerged yesterday that his father is James Lloyd, a BNP councillor for the Princes End ward in Tipton, Sandwell.

Mr Lloyd, the only BNP councillor in Sandwell, was elected to the local authority last year and lives in High Street, Princes End.

His 19-year-old son appeared at Wolverhampton Crown Court on Tuesday when he pleaded guilty to attempted robbery. Sentence was adjourned to next month for reports.

Ricky has been identified as one of 35 "priority and persistent" offenders who are responsible for up to a third of all crime in the Sandwell

North police operational command unit, which covers West Bromwich, Great Barr, Wednesbury and Tipton.

Mr Lloyd, aged 41, is the owner of Tipton-based heating and ventilation engineers Rubicon Developments and his mother Sandra, 39, runs a tanning salon in Bradley, Bilston.

A Sandwell North police spokesman said Ricky's catalogue of crimes began in 1999 and his list of offences included theft and motoring charges.

His distraught father said because of his son's "appalling" record he was facing a sentence of three to five years' detention.

Mr Lloyd said: "Since Ricky was 14 he must have spent almost four years of his life banged up - he has lost his teenage years.

"He just seems hell-bent on going his own way in life and his list of crimes is endless."