Boy, 14, sentenced after throwing bricks at police vans in Manchester

Let’s head to Manchester Magistrates’ Court where a 14-year-old boy has just been sentenced for “cowardly and shameful” violent disorder outside a hotel housing asylum seekers in the city.

The boy, who can’t be named for legal reasons, was celebrating his 14th birthday when he joined a group of adults and youths who threw missiles at police and the Holiday Inn, Newton Heath, on 31 July.

Magistrates were shown CCTV footage of the teenager throwing bricks at police vans and kicking a bus.

The bus driver was later assaulted, although the boy was not involved in that attack, the court heard.

The court was told the boy was also part of a group goading police officers and trying to knock their helmets off. The boy, who pleaded guilty to violent disorder at an earlier hearing, said he was “ashamed” and “very sorry” for what he had done.

District Judge Margaret McCormack gave the boy a 12-month referral order and described his behaviour as “wicked” but accepted he had made a “stupid mistake” and was sorry for what he had done.

The boy’s mother, who was in court, was ordered to pay £150 compensation to the bus driver.

BBC News