Boy, 14, spat at and hit police officer at Bolton riot

The boy pleaded guilty to violent disorder and assault by beating of an emergency worker.

The court heard how the boy, who cannot be named due to his age, was part of a large group of masked teenagers in and around Bolton town centre on Sunday, August 4.

Prosecuting solicitor Khan said the boy had grabbed a police officer, spat on him, and hit him on his face.

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In a victim personal statement read out to the court by Mr Khan, the man – who has been a police officer for 21 years – said: “I became a police officer to keep people safe, to come to work and be spat on is disgusting, the most cowardly act imaginable.”

There was a large police presence in Bolton town centre due to widespread disorder on August 4 (Image: Phil Taylor)

Defence solicitor Okhar said the boy had come to Bolton town centre following the main disorder in the day.

Ms Okhar said: “I think he does understand the stupidity of what he did on this occasion.

“I think it’s been a learning curve for him, a group of lads and he got over himself.”

“The riots themselves have actually finished, he’s decided with a group of friends to see what the aftermath is.

“He accepts that his behaviour has been unacceptable, having thought about it.”

Described as coming from a supportive family, solicitor Okhar added that the boys’ parents had been left disappointed by his behaviour.

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District Judge Lucy Hogarth said she had seen the boy speak in ‘a really intelligent way’ about what had happened in a pre-sentence report.

Addressing the judge directly, the boy said: “I regret what I did, but I can’t change the past – I can only learn from it.”

The boy was sentenced at Manchester Magistrates' Court (Image: Jack Fifield, Newsquest)

Asked what he was going to do specifically, he said: “I’m going to get back in the gym.”

The boy also said he felt ‘bad’ about how he’d made others feel.

Judge Lucy Hogarth then asked the boy’s mother what else she should know before she made a sentencing decision.

The boy’s mother cried and did not make a verbal response to the question.

Sentencing, Judge Hogarth said: “You have come before the court for really serious offences, bearing in mind the effect on everybody of those riots and what happened in August.”

Judge Hogarth sentenced the boy to a nine-month referral order. Additionally, the boy’s mother will have to pay £100 compensation to the police officer and £85 in costs for the prosecution.

What is a referral order?

A referral order is a type of sentence available for young offenders between the ages of 10 and 17 who plead guilty to an offence.

The young person will be required to attend a youth offender panel, which will agree a contract of interventions with the young person – including activities and rehabilitative and restorative sessions.

After the completion of the order, the conviction is considered 'spent'.

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