The mother of one of Britain’s youngest criminals involved in this summer’s riots who went to Ibiza when her son was due in court has been ordered to pay compensation amounting to the cost of her holiday by a judge.
The 30-year-old single mother, who appeared at Manchester Magistrates Court, alongside her son, 12, told District Judge Joanne Hirst her holiday to the Spanish island had cost £1,000.
After an hour-long hearing, the judge ordered the mother to take part in a six-month parenting course and to pay compensation of £1,200, telling her, “You know it’s approximately the same cost as your holiday to Ibiza.”
She told the youngster he had been involved in “the worst type of feral behaviour in our country” and if an adult, he would be going to jail for up to five years, but she was giving him a “chance” and instead ordered him to complete a 12-month referral order.
He told the judge he was “sorry”, now had help from social workers and had taken up boxing.
Under 18s appearing in Youth Courts cannot be identified by the press, so his mother cannot be named as that would lead to his identification.
His mother had decided to fly abroad for a five-day sunshine break, the day before he was due to appear in court last week for sentence after admitting two counts of violent disorder.
The boy was accompanied by his uncle last week but Judge Hirst said the mother’s actions left her, “frankly astonished” and at the hearing on September 2, said she would summon the woman to court to explain herself.
On Wednesday the judge asked the mother: “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.”
After speaking to his mother, the court was shown video footage of his offences.
The boy then kicked the bus as a mob attacked the vehicle and the driver of the bus, leaving passengers, one a resident of the hotel, terrified.
Days later on August 3 the boy, wearing a balaclava, was in Manchester city centre, where he knocked over shelves in a Sainsbury’s store as it was looted then kicked the glass door of a vape shop as others tried to break into the premises.
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.
Catherine Baird, defending, told the court the youngster had no previous convictions, adding: “This is a child. He simply got wrapped up, surrounded by peers, many of them were adults. Custody would do more harm than good.”
The judge asked him directly about his behaviour.
“It’s horrible. I’m just worried that I might get, like… jailed.”
She told the mixed-race youngster the hotel was for asylum seekers and asked if he had ever suffered racism and how it made him feel.
“One time. Really sad.”
Asked what he would say to the asylum seekers, he replied: “I would not know exactly what to say, but I would say sorry.”
The mother 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.
