Boys, 13 and 14, sentenced for disorder outside asylum hotel

Both boys admitted to the court that they did not know what an asylum seeker was.

Manchester Magistrates’ Court heard how a 14-year-old boy, who cannot be named for legal reasons, had been identified as part of a group engaging in disorder on Oldham Road outside an asylum hotel – before kicking a bus, leaving a bus driver suffering from ‘trauma’.

The boy, from Manchester, was seen on CCTV footage as part of a group throwing missiles at a police van and at the hotel as part of widespread disorder.

The 14-year-old was in tears as the court watched footage of him throwing missiles towards police.

Judge Margaret McCormack said: “The police have to be commended as well for all the hard work and resources they’ve put into identifying these thugs.”

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Further footage was shown of the boy going on to attack and kick the side of a bus as others got on, leaving the driver traumatised as alarms blared.

The court heard how the boy had taken part in the action following a mass stabbing in Southport which left three children dead and ten injured.

The disorder took place on Oldham Road (Image: Google)

Asked if he knew what an asylum seeker was, the boy said he did not.

Following his arrest, the boy was kept in cells for three days before he was released with an electronic tag and curfew conditions.

Judge McCormack said: “If you don’t sort yourself out, and quick, you’ll have to get used to that, because that’s where you’ll be.”

She added: “If you keep hanging around with the types of people like that, you won’t be at home at Christmas, you’ll be at Wetherby, and your mum’s not going to be able to get to see you.”

An order for £150 compensation to the bus driver was issued, with no additional order for costs.

Judge McCormack said: “The amount I’m giving reflects in no way the amount of trauma that [the bus driver] endured, or the passengers. It reflects the fact he has no money.”

Separately, another boy was also sentenced for his role in the same disorder.

Now aged 13, but aged 12 at the time, the boy was seen on video footage filming police officers while others attempted to steal their hats.

He also admitted to throwing an egg, but said he had not brought the egg with him. The court heard that the boy had not been involved in the subsequent bus incident.

Asked by Judge McCormack if he was a racist, the boy responded ‘no’.

He also said he did not know what an asylum seeker was when asked.

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Judge McCormack responded: “Look at what you got involved in – those terrified individuals that had to be escorted into that hotel because of a baying mob, the police that are there, those individuals they don’t know what weapons you’ve got – the adrenaline, they’re petrified.”

The boy, also from Manchester, spent his 13th birthday in police custody following his arrest, spending a total of two nights and three days in cells.

Judge McCormack added: “As I said to the last one, make her a son to be proud of.

“You’re just 13, you’ve done a stupid thing – cowardly.

“Everybody’s brave there, they’re brave when they’re masked up. messing about with a police officer and their caps doing all this, and the police officers were very restrained from the clippings I’ve seen.

“It’s a very different thing when you’ve got to look out for your actions you can’t hide behind a baying mob.”

The boy was also given a 12-month referral order and ordered to pay £150 compensation to the bus driver in the other incident.

If you have a story, I cover the whole borough of Bolton. Please get in touch at jack.fifield@newsquest.co.uk.