2 days Ago
A 12-year-old girl from Bury assaulted a police officer and took part in vile chanting in a riot in Manchester. The girl, who cannot be named for legal reasons, was identified by CCTV footage in a group of people on August 3, Manchester Magistrates' Court was told on Tuesday. Prosecutor J.
Deacon said the footage captured her on Mosley Street in the city centre, where she and a group of other people entered a Sainsbury’s shop where violence broke out, although she was not part of that disturbance. Read more: Unsworth: Stabbing leaves man with serious injuries The CCTV then showed her stood outside a vape shop on Mosley Street, kicking the door. She was caught on camera in Piccadilly Gardens chanting “Allah is a paedo” with a crowd, and she also shouted the word “paedo” to a police liaison officer.
She then also struck an officer in the arm, the court heard. The incident happened at a time when dozens of towns and cities saw outbreaks of violence following the killing of three young girls at a Taylor Swift-themed dance class in Southport on Monday, July 29. Shabir Khattack, defending, said that she pleaded guilty to the charge of violent disorder at the first occasion and that her involvement in the violence was “pure stupidity”.
He said: “Despite her difficulties she’s aware it’s a very serious offence. "She’s aware that everyone over 18 has been sent to jail for over two years.” The court heard the defendant suffers from ADHD and she had a difficult upbringing.
Mr Khattack said she has wanted to apologise to the officer who she hit and wants to better herself. Read more: Arrests made as man injured in Tottington Road 'disturbance' Mr Khattack added: “It’s a saving grace that she had no previous convictions prior and that the officer wasn’t injured.” District Judge Joanne Hirst asked the girl’s mother what she has said to her daughter about regarding the incident in which she explained that no-one is above the law and the girl does not go out anymore.
The girl told Judge Hirst about her career plans for the future and added that she understands what she did was wrong. She said: “I could have hurt someone really bad.” Read more: GMP 'improvements' in treatment of women including strip search rules Judge Hirst said: “The impact these riots had in the community was shameful.
"You got caught up in the moment. “It might have been exciting at the time, but it was very dangerous.” The girl was sentenced to a referral order of 10 months.
Judge Hirst added: “You’ve not done anything wrong since August and that’s a really good start.”.
