Girl, 13, avoids detention for kicking hotel door during Aldershot protest

A 13-year-old girl has avoided detention for banging and kicking at the doors of a hotel housing asylum seekers during a protest in Aldershot.

The teenager, who cannot be named for legal reasons, was sentenced at Basingstoke Magistrates’ Court to a 12-month referral order.

The court heard that the teenager was taken to the protest outside the Potters International Hotel on July 31 by the parents of a friend.

After a group forced their way through a gate to the hotel entrance, the defendant was shown on police body worn video to briefly bang and kick at the door while voices could be heard telling her to stop.

David Foster, prosecuting, said: “Potters International Hotel at the time was used to house immigrants.

“Police are first notified by the manager of the hotel at about 5.30pm that a number of people had congregated outside, about 15 or so, others joined and the crowd swelled to the region of 200.

“Police, who were present, say the majority of the protesters were peaceful protesters outside the hotel grounds.

“There was not any public access into that car park but access was forced by others through a gate.

“At 7.30pm about 35 people approached the hotel and started banging on the doors and screaming.

“Seven adults were charged with violent disorder and all have been committed to the crown court for sentence.”

Ruth Cassidy, defending, said the girl’s involvement was “very, very brief” and added: “She peers through the window and strikes the glass with her fist and feet a number of times.”

Ms Cassidy said the defendant, who is of previous good character, caused no damage and added: “She realises her behaviour was completely unacceptable and unjustified.”

Ms Cassidy explained that the girl was with a friend on the day of the protest and was taken by the friend’s parents to the demonstration where she bumped into her own parents who were also attending.

Ms Cassidy added: “She is just 13 years of age and her high level of immaturity is very relevant to the behaviour exhibited that day, she is very influenced by her peers.”

Sentencing her, district judge Tim Pattinson said: “You were with a large number of people all shouting and making threats of violence, all the people engaged in violent disorder did so in order to cause fear to the people inside the hotel.

“What you and the other people did must have caused them to be absolutely terrified, therefore it’s a serious and very nasty offence.”

The judge asked the girl how she felt the hotel occupants would have felt, she replied: “Quite scared, very scared.”

He explained that the referral order would involve the defendant regularly meeting the youth offending panel and possibly carrying out work in the community.

The judge also ordered the girl’s parents to pay £85 for court costs and a victim surcharge of £26.

Assistant Chief Constable Paul Bartolomeo, of Hampshire Constabulary, said: “The majority of people who attended this protest in Aldershot were respectful, however the girl was part of a smaller group that chose to act in an aggressive manner.

“While we appreciate her age, the girl’s behaviour was still completely unacceptable and her actions caused fear of violence to those inside the hotel and our officers.

“This result highlights that this sort of behaviour will not be tolerated and it is a clear message that these actions have consequences.”

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