The mother of one of Britain’s youngest criminals involved in last month’s riots has been hauled before a judge after she went on holiday to Ibiza when her child was due in court.
A magistrate has now ordered that she pay the same amount in compensation as her five-day holiday in the sun cost. Last week a magistrate said she was “frankly astonished” that the boy’s mother had decided to fly abroad when her son was due before her facing two counts of violent disorder.
District Judge Joanne Hirst told Manchester Magistrates’ Court said: “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, Ms Hirst told him: “Boys like you need their mums in their lives. I need your mum here.”
District Judge Hirst adjourned sentencing the boy and ordered a parental summons so the mother must appear before the court to explain herself. The judge had been told the boy’s mother was not present because she had booked a holiday in July and gone abroad on Sunday.
She was only due to fly back to the UK on Thursday, missing his sentencing hearing last Monday, the court heard. The boy cannot be identified due to his age. He had pleaded guilty after being accompanied in court by his uncle and admitting being part of a mob that attacked a bus outside a hotel housing asylum seekers in Manchester on July 31.
Days later on August 3, 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. Today, the 30-year-old mum was ordered to pay £1,200 compensation which the district judge said was about the same price as her five-day break away.
She was also ordered to take part in a six-month parenting course. The boy, who cannot be named because of his age, was handed a 12-month referral order and told had he been an adult he could have been sent to prison for between four and five years.
District Judge Joanne Hirst told the youngster at Manchester magistrates' court he had displayed "the worst type of feral behaviour". His mother, who had told the judge her holiday to the Spanish island had cost £1,000, was ordered to pay £300 each to the bus driver, a housing officer at the asylum hotel, an asylum seeker who was on the attacked bus and a member of staff at the looted Sainsbury's store.
The judge told her: "You know it's approximately the same cost as your holiday to Ibiza." The Crown Prosecution Service said in the disorder on July 31st at about 6pm, the boy was captured on CCTV as part of a group throwing rocks and other missiles at police officers who were trying to protect the staff and residents of the hotel.
The boy was seen handing a rock to another boy at the scene. Later, the group, who were on the road, stopped a bus full of passengers and the boy was seen on CCTV kicking out at the bus from his bike.
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 July 29.
Asked what he would say to the asylum seekers, the boy replied: "I would not know exactly what to say, but I would say sorry.”
The judge asked him directly about his behaviour and he said: "It's horrible. I'm just worried that I might get, like... jailed."
The boy, who has ADHD, was described as a "lovely affection little boy," by his mother, but who had at times a "chaotic" home life.
CCTV was shown the court and the boy had ridden his bike in front of the bus, forcing it to stop, in the first incident. In the second he wore a balaclava. On Wednesday the judge asked the mother why she hadn’t attended the last hearing: "Can you explain your point of view?”
The mother said she spoke with her solicitor and the Youth Justice team, adding: "It was not put to me how much I needed to be there. Each one said, 'Is there an appropriate adult?' My brother - which is why I went on holiday."