A teenager yesterday became the youngest person to be sentenced for his part in last summer's Bradford riots.
The 14-year-old boy, who cannot be named for legal reasons, pleaded guilty to a charge of riot and was made the subject of a reparation order. He was ordered to pay £200 costs. The order - which requires the defendent to make amends for a crime - will be decided later.
David Steer, prosecuting, told Bradford Youth Court that the boy was seen throwing stones at police officers on six occasions during violent clashes in the White Abbey Road area of the city on July 7.
He was easily recognisable because of the bright yellow T-shirt he was wearing and his distinctive left-arm throwing action. Police video footage showed he was part of the mob for at least two-and-a-half hours. Thirty-five people were arrested at the scene, but it was not until a month later, after his photograph was one of hundreds published in the Telegraph & Argus, that the boy's father recognised him and took him to a police station.
When interviewed, he made comments about "having a laugh" but it was the police view that he had been seeking to join in with older men and young boys involved in major rioting, said Mr Steer.
Iftikhar Ahmed, mitigating, said the boy had been influenced by others and foolishly joined in the disturbances. He had been visiting his grandmother and was playing football with some friends when they heard noises and went to investigate.
Because of his age and the fact he had no previous convictions the court was unable to send him to custody, said Mr Ahmed. But the boy understood it was a "very serious case".
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