09 February 2023 , 23:58
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Police have urged youngsters not to play around in derelict buildings after a teenager was left disabled following a fall through a roof.
Th 15-year-old fell through the roof of a derelict property in Mancetta, North Warwickshire, and suffered injuries that have left him permanently disabled, reports Coventry Live.
The accident, which occurred in 2020, has sent shockwaves through the local community, with details only emerging in recent weeks.
Local police said they have continued to receive numerous reports of young people running riot through disused buildings since the boy's fall.
They released some footage of youngsters running across the roof of a derelict building in a bid to highlight the danger of entering restricted areas.
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The youngsters fled across the rooftops when confronted (Police handout)The boys fled the scene when they realised they had been caught, sprinting across the top of the building as a dangerous pile of scrap wood, metal and plastic debris lay on the ground below.
"The site is secure and has security on site but this is not acting as a deterrent," the force said.
"We had an incident in Atherstone not too long ago where a boy fell through a roof at a derelict site and was left permanently disabled. We don’t want to see a repeat of this."
Trespassing across derelict property can be extremely dangerous (Police handout)They said that are keen for parents to do their bit to help by reinforcing to their children the dangers of entering derelict areas.
While trespassing itself is not a criminal offence, there are many offences that often take place alongside it for which you can receive harsh punishment under UK Law.
These include failing to comply with police direction to leave land, which can result in a three-month prison sentence and/or a level 4 fine.
Aggravated trespass - whereby the perpetrator trespasses with the intention to intimidate, obstruct or disrupt the lawful activity of others - can also be punished with a three-month prison sentence.