Police officers were "spat on, attacked and assaulted" in an outbreak of disorder involving two Bolton teenagers this summer. 

The 14-year-old boy, who spat in an officer’s face and 15-year-old boy, who stole a police helmet, got involved as unrest broke out in the town centre on Sunday August 4.

Both have since been tracked down and brought before the magistrates court to be sentenced.

Detective Inspector Paul Costello said: “The violence we saw against officers during the unrest over the summer was utterly deplorable.

“These men and women left their families each day to protect the communities which they serve day-in, day-out, and to see them spat on, attacked, and assaulted during their tour of duties was sickening.

The two teenagers were sentenced at Manchester Magistrates CourtThe two teenagers were sentenced at Manchester Magistrates Court (Image: Newsquest)

“These two teenagers were part of a wider group which degraded and attacked an officer carrying out his job.

“These sort of incidents are disgusting to see and we continue to investigate all instances of violence from the summer disorder in Bolton and indeed across Greater Manchester.

“This has seen us secure more than one hundred arrests and charges, with lots of work still to come.

“As we continue with our work, I would urge anyone with any information about any of the incident across Greater Manchester to please get in touch.”

The 14-year-old, who cannot be named for legal reasons, was one of a group of up to 20 youths who surrounded a police sergeant.

He spat directly in the officer’s face before running away but was identified after CCTV investigations.

He was brought before Manchester and Salford Magistrates Court where he pleaded guilty to violent disorder and assaulting an emergency worker.

The boy was referred to a youth offender panel for a total of nine Months, with a parent or guardian required to attend the meeting, while he must also pay compensation of £100.

The 15-year-old who stole the police officer’s hat was also seen running away from the scene and was later spotted throwing a bottle at another group of officers.

The boy must now follow a curfew between 9.30pm and 5am daily and must present himself to an officer who asks to see them between those times, for three months.

The 15-year-old has also been referred to a youth offender panel for 12 months and must pay compensation of £500.

He was also ordered to pay costs of £85 and a surcharge of £26.

Greater Manchester Police Federation chair Mike Peake said: “1,861 officers in GMP were assaulted last year.

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“That’s an average of more than 35 every week, more than five every single day.

“Police officers are not robots.

“We are mothers and fathers, sons and daughters, husbands, wives and partners.

“We should not come under attack for doing our difficult job.

“We are not society’s punchbags and those assaulting police officers should face severe consequences every day of the year.”