Boys aged just 12 become youngest to be convicted of violent disorder following riots

Two 12-year-old children have become the youngest people convicted of violent disorder following the widespread unrest sparked by the Southport stabbings.

The boys, who cannot be named because of their age, from Manchester and Southport, each pleaded guilty to the charges - which are not connected - as they appeared in court.

One youngster, in Manchester, was said to have been "more involved in the violence and disorder than any other defendant I’ve seen," by a judge as he appeared in court.

The 12-year-old admitted two charges of violent disorder after throwing a missile at a police van and taking part in two separate incidents of unrest in the city.

The court heard the youth was part of a group that gathered on 31 July outside a Holiday Inn hotel, on Oldham Road in Newton Heath, housing asylum seekers.

Prosecutor Tess Kenyon told Manchester Magistrates Court the boy was “seen in footage handing a rock to another youth during the disorder” and was part of a group that attacked a bus.

The prosecutor added: “He kicks the bus at the side as it drove past him.”

During subsequent disorder in Manchester city centre on 3 August, Ms Kenyon said the boy was “filmed by police kicking the front window of a vape shop”.

Ms Kenyon added: “He was also seen to throw a missile at a police van.”

Defending the boy, Natasha McGarr said he was “very sorry” and “absolutely ashamed” of his conduct.

District Judge Joanne Hirst said the case was “very serious”, adding it was the first she had dealt with of a person “attending both incidents” of disorder.

The judge added: “He’s more involved in the violence and disorder than any other defendant I’ve seen coming through these courts, adult or child.”

The boy was remanded to local authority accommodation and will be sentenced at Manchester Magistrates’ Court on 2 September.

In Southport, another 12-year-old was caught on CCTV throwing an object at a line of police before riding off on a bike, Liverpool Youth Court heard.

The boy spoke only to confirm his name, address and date of birth before entering the guilty plea to the offence which took place in Southport on 30 July.

Prosecutor Ms Jessica Pridding told the court: “Merseyside Police’s Operation PepperBerry is the force’s response to the disorder from July 30 onwards."On July 30 the defendant is seen on footage amongst the crowd throwing something with his right hand towards a line of uniformed police officers wearing body armour and helmets. He then mounts a bicycle and then rides away from the officers.”In mitigation, Ms Heather Toohey told the court because of his age, and lack of previous convictions, he can only be dealt with by a referral order.

He will be sentenced on 17 September.

The pair are believed to have become the youngest to be convicted of a criminal offence in connection with the nationwide public disorder.

In total, Merseyside Police has charged 30 people in relation to the rioting in Southport on Tuesday 30 July, and in Liverpool the following weekend.

Among them is a 15-year-old boy from Toxteth, who has pleaded not guilty to burglary, in connection with riots in Liverpool on 3 August.

The boy, who cannot be named because of his age, is accused of stealing a vape from a shop which had its windows smashed. He said he picked it up from the street and not inside the shop itself.

At Liverpool Youth Court, he spoke only to plead not guilty to the charge of burglary and confirm his name and address.

Lawyers for the boy indicated he would accept the lesser charge of theft. A trial has been set for the same court on 14 November.

In Manchester, a man has admitted throwing a missile at police during "shameful disorder" in Bolton town centre on 4 August.

Niall Charnock, 31, was caught on social media footage breaking through a police barricade and throwing something at officers.

So far, 927 people have been arrested and 466 charged in relation to the recent rooting which broke out across the country in the wake of the mass stabbing at a dance class in Southport on Monday 29 July, which left three young girls dead.

According to the Crown Prosecution Service, as of Monday, 273 people have been charged in relation to the disorder.

The figure released by the NPCC is higher to reflect charges which are solely done by police and do not involve the CPS.

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