Judge 'frankly astonished' mother of 12-year-old Manchester rioter in Ibiza while he attended court

The mother of a 12-year-old boy involved in rioting has been ordered by a judge to appear in court - after she chose to fly to Ibiza instead of attending the hearing.

District Judge Joanne Hirst said she was "frankly astonished" the boy’s mother was abroad on a five-day sunshine break, after he admitted two counts of violent disorder.

She adjourned sentencing of the boy - who is too young to be named - and ordered a parental summons so the mother must appear before the court to explain her actions.

The boy was accompanied to Manchester Magistrates’ Court by his uncle and had earlier admitted being part of a mob that attacked a bus outside a hotel housing asylum seekers in Manchester on 31 July.

Days later on 3 August, in Manchester city centre, he was part of a group filmed kicking the windows of a vape shop and throwing a missile at a police van.

Dozens of towns and cities saw violence erupt following the killing of three young girls at a Taylor Swift themed dance class in Southport on 29 July.

District Judge Hirst was told the boy’s mother was not present, having booked a holiday in July and gone abroad.

She thanked the boy’s uncle for accompanying his nephew to court in his mother’s absence, but added: "One day before the hearing we find out the mum has gone on holiday and is not with her son who played a greater part in the recent civil disorder than any adult or child I’ve seen coming through these courts. I’m frankly astonished.

"I will require a full explanation from mum on her decision to go on holiday one day before her 12-year-old son comes to court facing a potential custodial sentence.

"This is a serious situation, it has now deteriorated in my view because of the actions of the mother.

"She is on notice - I will be challenging her about this decision."

Addressing the boy as she adjourned sentencing to 11 September, Judge Hirst told him: "Boys like you need their mums in their lives. I need your mum here."

In a separate hearing in the same court, a 16-year-old boy was told he was being given "the biggest chance in your life" by Judge Hirst, who decided to pass a referral order rather than jail the youngster.

The teenager, accompanied by his mother, had admitted violent disorder by throwing a bottle at a police horse during wide scale trouble in Bolton town centre in July.

The court heard the youngster’s father had died and his mother, who accompanied him to court, was having treatment for cancer.

He was asked by the judge: "What were you thinking?"

The boy replied: "I was not really thinking anything. We came into town and everything just erupted. Adrenaline. I’m disgusted with myself."

The youngster’s mother told the court: "He’s frightened to death of going to prison. I think this has been a massive wake-up call."

The judge warned the youngster he had narrowly avoided custody and instead gave him a 12-month referral order with intensive supervision and a curfew.

She added: "It was mindless violence. I’m going to give you a chance. This is the biggest chance in your life that you will get."

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