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Court refuses to name 'complete nuisance', 12

Thursday, 9th September 2004.

MAGISTRATES have again refused to lift restrictions preventing the identification of a 12-year-old boy who committed a string of offences over a two-month period, or to make him the subject of an Anti-Social Behaviour Order.

The News applied to Bury St Edmunds youth court on Tuesday for the third time to be able to identify the boy, who was living in Haverhill, but is now with foster carers in Norfolk.

But John Dennehy, chairman of the bench, said they did not feel that the interests of justice would be served by naming the boy. They imposed a 12-month supervision order on him, plus a curfew from 8pm to 7am.

Paul Forshaw, prosecuting, had applied for an anti-social behaviour order on the boy, who he described as having been "a complete nuisance over the past two months".

He told magistrates the boy appeared before the youth court on July 28, when he was made the subject of a referral order after admitting offences including attempted arson. He admitted putting lighted matches through the letterbox of a house, setting light to a wheelie bin, smashing windows at a school and theft.

He appeared in court again on August 18, when he admitted offences on August 10, 13 and 14, of smashing a car window, a window at a shop, another at Haverhill Leisure Centre and one at Strasbourg Square.

The case was adjourned for reports until this week. Mr Forshaw said the boy had also signed acceptable behaviour contracts in July, but committed offences within days of this.

Kevin McCarthy, for the boy, resisted the lifting of the order preventing him being named. Although he agreed his client had been a nuisance, he said naming him would be "profoundly misconceived".

"There is a danger that he will be glorified for his actions and made a hero among his peers," Mr McCarthy said.

Mr McCarthy also opposed an anti-social behaviour order, which he said would duplicate the terms of the supervision order. Such orders should only be used for people who were before the courts again and again, he suggested.

Mr Dennehy told the boy he had caused a lot of people a lot of trouble and he would be kept busy under the order, which he must work hard to comply with.

"You are only 12, you have got a long way ahead of you and we would rather not see you here again. You have got to try and help everyone who is trying to help you," Mr Dennehy said.

Haverhill Online News

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