A teenager has been handed an 18-month Criminal Behaviour Order for a raft of offences in Freshwater.
The 14-year-old, who can’t be named for legal reasons, embarked on a campaign of offences which directly impacted the lives of local people and businesses.
The bulk of offending centred on shoplifting, but the boy was also involved in ongoing issues of anti-social behaviour in the village and also harassed one of his elderly neighbours.
Local officers investigated a number of offences involving the boy, and he was charged with the following:
- 2 counts of theft, relating to a drink, alcohol and a sandwich stolen from Sainsbury’s on School Green Road on 23rd April this year.
- Criminal damage to a window at Sainsbury’s on School Green Road on 25 April this year.
- 2 counts of theft, relating to a chocolate bar and energy drinks stolen from Sainsbury’s on School Green Road on 22nd May this year.
- Three counts of theft, relating to energy drinks, chocolate bars and biscuits stolen from Sainsbury’s on School Green Road on 23rd May this year.
- Theft of chocolate bars from Sainsbury’s on School Green Road on 25th May this year.
- Theft of chocolate bars from Sainsbury’s on School Green Road on 3rd June this year.
- Theft of chocolate bars from Sainsbury’s on School Green Road on 9th June this year.
- 2 counts of theft, relating to chocolate bars stolen from Sainsbury’s on School Green Road on 10th June this year.
- 3 counts of theft, relating to food and drink stolen from Sainsbury’s on School Green Road on 13th, 14th and 17th June this year.
- 3 counts of theft, relating to food and drink stolen from Sainsbury’s on School Green Road on 19th June this year.
- Harassment – between 26th June and 28th June pursued a course of conduct amounting to harassment against a woman in her late 60s in Freshwater, knocking on her windows, kicking her door and banging her door.
- Using threatening and abusive words or behaviour to cause harassment, alarm or distress on 3rd July, in which he shouted homophobic abuse against a police officer.
The boy admitted all of the offences at the Isle of Wight Youth Court, and appeared at the same court on Wednesday 5 July to be sentenced. He was handed the CBO in addition to a Youth Rehabilitation Order.
Combined, the 2 orders prohibit the boy from associating with certain named individuals; entering any retail premises from which he is banned without a parent/guardian/responsible adult present and causing anyone harassment, alarm or distress by any social media platform or messaging service. He is also subject to an exclusion order banning him from entering a specified area of Freshwater, and he must attend appointments with the Youth Offending Team and engage in a rehabilitation activity.
Chief Inspector Alex Charge said:
“This young man has wreaked misery on the village of Freshwater, showing absolutely no regard whatsoever for the law or the impact his offending has had on local people.
Article continues below this advertisement “Officers from the Wight Rural West team have persisted in investigating the incidents reported to us, and I am pleased in particular with the efforts of PCs Ewa Gunter and Marie Pragnell whose determination has resulted in charges being secured and the offender being brought before the courts.
“A CBO and YRO are both now in place with clear conditions. If the boy breaks these then he risks going to prison.
“On the occasions where we deal with young offenders and youths involved in anti-social behaviour, we do everything we can to work with Community Safety partners and local services to divert youngsters away from this type of behaviour so they can make a positive contribution to society.
“Sadly there are still a very small minority, like the boy in this case, whose continuous offending does require us to take more robust action through the courts.
“We know the impact that ASB can have on our communities. This is something that is being recognised nationally this week as part of National ASB Awareness Week, and locally we are committed to reducing it and taking action against those responsible.
“We want to stamp out this type of behaviour, and encourage affected residents to please keep reporting this to us so we can take the most appropriate action to reduce any disruption to the local community.”
He should be named ,regardless of his age, !!!
Everyone in the village knows his name
I’m sure they do. He needs some discipline and quick! You can’t go around causing this much trouble and distress to people who are unfortunate enough to encounter this little shit. He needs sorting out.
Never a truer statement
Just look for the Nipper with no teeth judging by what he keeps stealing
Put him in the village stocks with his parents handcuffed to it. Invite Islanders to see the trollop being trashed with stinking vegetables (and anything else), video it and put it on social media. I’m sure that would have an impact. Probably force him and his parents to leave the Island?
Ooooh, now wouldn’t that be good. The island doesn’t want low life like them here causing trouble. He’s only 14, a kid. What’s he gonna be up to in 5 years time and beyond? The parents need to sort him out and quick! Or perhaps they think his behaviour is acceptable?
Can’t be named for legal reasons. Name and shame that’s what I say . Old enough to cause that much destruction and crime old enough to face the consequences.
With a list as long as his detailing his ‘wrong doing’ why can’t the little shit be named? Name the parents aswell, they bought him into this world, they are responsible for him.
What happens when he breaches these conditions? Nothing? Name him, name his parents. There should be a huge poster of his face in a prominent position in Freshwater.
How about send his obviously caring & watchful parents on a parenting course, and fine them if no improvement, and by fine I do not mean by a minimal reduction in benifits, but take the large TV, sound systems, x box ect, maybe only then they will tell the little P@@@K To stay home and stop him from causing the problem so they can enjoy the life of not raising a kid like most responsible people.