A TEENAGER who stole cigarettes, alcohol, an electric bike and other pupils’ possessions from school changing rooms, attacked another teen and spat in a police officer’s face has been bound over for five months.
The Youth Court heard that the teenager committed all six crimes within the space of six months, when he was aged 13 and 14.
Advocate Lauren Taylor, prosecuting, said the first offence took place on 10 September, when he jumped over a shop counter and grabbed a wholesale box of cigarettes worth £150. The theft was captured on CCTV.
On 12 October, he went into the changing rooms of a school and stole cash, bus passes, cards and a watch.
Nine days later he stole an electric bike. ‘The bike was recovered, but damage was done to it and the saddle bags were missing,’ Advocate Taylor said. ‘They were not recovered.’
On 25 November, the teenager broke into a branch of Wine Warehouse and made off with a bottle of vodka. And on 25 January he was among a group of youths who assaulted a Year 8 pupil at the Waterfront.
Advocate Taylor said: ‘They chased the victim and pushed him to the ground.
‘They were punching him and kicking him while he was on the floor.’
On 23 March he spat in a States police officer’s face when being detained.
The youth admitted the charges of theft, illegal entry of the school, and assaulting the other teenager and the police officer.
Advocate Sarah Dale, defending, added: ‘The offences are largely impulsive and opportunistic.’
She pointed out that there had been a three-month gap between the two assaults, and said: ‘He has shown that he can stay out of trouble.’
Assistant Magistrate Peter Harris agreed to Advocate Dale’s request for a binding-over order.
He accepted that the youth had had ‘a difficult start’ but told him: ‘The concern is whether you are going to get yourself in more and more trouble.
‘Try to imagine the impact of your behaviour on other people.’
