A judge has blasted a teenager who claimed he was “going to buy a drink” before a group of masked youths attempted to break into a shop. The 17 year old was among several teens spotted outside the convenience store in Bolton town centre during protests and counter-protests on August 4 this year.
There was unrest seen across the country following online misinformation about the identity of the murder suspect of three children killed in Southport last month, including areas across the north west such as Newton Heath, Manchester city centre and Bolton. Manchester Magistrates’ Court heard that the boy, who was 16 at the time but has since turned 17, was caught on CCTV wearing a face mask.
Police were deployed to maintain peace between the two sides, after which 20 to 30 youths continued to cause disruption, the court heard. Prosecutor Hannah Nicholls said: “This boy was one of the youths, he was involved in an incident upon a store, namely the AMZ Convenience Store. The owner has owned it for 11 years.” Join our WhatsApp news community here for the latest breaking news
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“He decided to open the shop around 1pm. He saw a number of people in masks and police outside the shop and realised people were protesting. He decided to close until things quieted down.”
Later that day, the situation seemed to have settled and he decided to open his shop, she said. However, just fifteen minutes later, while standing by the cash register, he spotted a masked individual on a bicycle outside, reports the Manchester Evening News.
“He then got off the bike, threw the bike and looked directly at him from outside the shop,” Ms Nicholls said. “The owner was concerned and ran to the front door as he was concerned he was going to get robbed.”
“He could hear the male shouting to someone and then three or four people came immediately and tried to open the front door by pushing, kicking and punching the door. He grabbed his keys from his pocket to put the shutter down, the youths tried to stop the shutter from coming down.”
“During that time could hear number of people shouting: “You’re going back, no good person, b*****d”. He believed they were trying to rob the shop.”
After successfully lowering the shutters, the owner stayed inside the shop, hearing the group banging on them for several seconds before they finally dispersed. The glass door was left completely shattered, and the wooden panels were damaged, with the total repair cost estimated between £1,200 and £2,000.
In a personal victim statement, the shop owner expressed: “I was worried for my safety and protecting my shop. At the time I was scared because I was on my own.”
“I believed I was targeted due to my race. It made me feel bad. I have lived in this country for a long time and my children have grown up here. I now stand outside my shop out of fear in case I am targeted again. I am constantly on edge.”
In mitigation, Dan Gaskell, representing the boy, noted his client’s previous conviction for possession of a bladed article, for which he received a referral order. He highlighted the boy’s ‘good motivation’ to engage with youth justice services and his ‘limited role’ in the violence at the shop.
“This is a young man with a complex history. He was left to his own devices as a child and is in the care of the local authority. He is young enough to learn from mistakes,” Mr Gaskell added.
District Judge Margaret McCormack asked the boy: “What do you have to say for yourself?”, He said: “First, I’m sorry about the shop. I didn’t mean to cause damage to the shop. At first I wanted to go and get a drink.”
Interrupting him sharply, the judge retorted: “No, I’m not having that. I wasn’t born yesterday. I have seen that footage, it was very volatile.”
“Do not come here and insult me by telling me you wanted to go and buy something. I have seen how threatening those groups of young men are, masked up.”
“Don’t test my patience, it was a very volatile situation. That man in that shop, whether or not it was you, but he was subject to racist abuse. He was born and bred in this country. Running a business. It could have got taken away from him. Do you know how serious it is? “.
The teen quietly responded: “Yes.” For the latest Welsh news delivered to your inbox sign up to our newsletter
“I have read your background and you had an appalling upbringing that no child should be subjected to. But you know the difference between right and wrong. You know you were doing wrong,” the judge told him.
She then pressed for any final words from the defendant with a cautionary instruction: “What else do you have to say to me? And don’t treat me as an idiot.”
In an apologetic tone, the boy responded: “Just I’m really sorry and it won’t happen again.”
The teenage defendant admitted to criminal damage and violent disorder charges, receiving a 12-month intensive youth rehabilitation order, including a three-month curfew monitored electronically from 7pm to 7am, activity requirements up to 91 days, and youth justice service supervision. The court also obliged him to compensate the shop owner £200.
District Judge McCormack delivered a pointed warning upon sentencing the teenager: “If you come back it won’t be me sending you to prison, it will be you.”
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