'Angry' boy's £6k vandalism rampage

A 15-year-old boy went on a criminal damage spree worth over £6,000 in Oldham town centre

The youth, who cannot be named for legal reasons, pleaded guilty to eight charges - of which seven happened in one night - at Tameside Magistrates Court yesterday.

Along with two other males, one of whom was his brother, the defendant smashed the windows of The Smoke Yard, Heron Frozen Foods, Topman and Boots ­- each worth £1,000.

He also smashed two cash machines belonging to Nationwide bank, causing £881 worth of damage, £150 worth of damage to the Link Centre, in Union Street, and £423 worth of damage to a bus shelter in the town centre.

A week later, on September 17, he came back to the town centre and smashed a window on Home Bargains worth £1,000.

On each occasion he was identified on CCTV footage and he was subsequently arrested and interviewed.

Angry

Prosecuting, Danielle Alan said that the boy admitted responsibility, claiming that he was angry at being placed in care.

She went on to say: "It was a high value of damage caused on one day by this defendant. When he was interviewed he confirmed he was the person responsible.

"With relation to Home Bargains he said he didn't have the intention to cause that much damage, he said he meant to knock over some toilet rolls near the window."

The teenager has 17 previous convictions for 27 individual offences and at the time of the offence he was subject to a 12-month conditional discharge relating to a charge of criminal damage.

On November 8 he was sentenced to a four-month detention and training order imposed by Tameside Court for assault, criminal damage, affray and possession of a weapon in October.

Defending the youth, Paul Bradbury said that it would be unfair to impose another custodial sentence as he has just finished serving one.

Mr Bradbury said, had magistrates known about the September offences they would have included the punishment on his sentencing in November.

Mr Bradbury said: "He's a troubled young man with a troubled history.

"It was a thoughtless pattern of behaviour, all too typical of him.

"When he was interviewed by police he readily admitted his part.

"I would urge you not to impose a custodial sentence. When he is released he will be subject to a strict licence condition and he will be under the care of the local authority.

"He will obviously, therefore, be strictly supervised.

"I don't think it would be in the interests of justice to subject him to a further detention and training order.

"I urge you to show compassion to him and recognise that had these offences been dealt with on November 8 it is unlikely he would have received any longer period of a detention and training order."

When asked by magistrates if he had anything to say, the 15-year-old said that he was "sorry for what I did".

Magistrates adjourned the sentencing until January 10. The youth was released on unconditional bail until then.