Boy, 12, admits participating in two scenes of violent disorder in Manchester

12 August 2024 , 16:15

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Boy, 12, admits participating in two scenes of violent disorder in Manchester

Boy and another 12-year-old among string of offenders pleading guilty at courts in Manchester and Liverpool.

A 12-year-old boy has admitted to participating in two separate incidents of disorder in Manchester after he was caught throwing a missile at a police van and kicking the front window of a vape shop.

The boy was one of two 12-year-olds and a string of older offenders who pleaded guilty in court on Monday in relation to nationwide disorder earlier this month. Several others who had already admitted to the crimes at earlier hearings were given prison sentences of a year or more. 

The boy admitted to two charges of violent disorder at Manchester magistrates court, sitting as a youth court.

District judge Joanne Hirst said the “very serious” case was the first she had dealt with in which someone had taken part in two separate incidents in the city. 

The boy attacked a bus outside a Holiday Inn housing asylum seekers on 31 July, kicking it and handing a rock to another youth. Then on 3 August he was filmed kicking the front window of a vape shop during disorder in Manchester city centre.

Judge Hirst said: “He’s more involved in the violence and disorder than any other defendant I’ve seen coming through these courts, adult or child.” He will be sentenced at Manchester magistrates court on 2 September.

Another 12 year-old became the youngest person to be convicted of a criminal offence in relation to the public disorder. He was filmed throwing an object at police and riding off on his bike during the unrest outside the Holiday Inn in Southport on 31 July and pleaded guilty to violent disorder at Liverpool youth court. He was bailed until his sentencing on 17 September.

Sophia Martinez