Mother of riot boy, 12, missed court hearing for Ibiza holiday, judge told
District Judge Joanne Hirst said she was ‘frankly astonished’ that the woman had chosen to go abroad rather than attend court with her son.
The mother of one of Britain’s youngest criminals involved in last month’s riots has been summonsed by a judge after missing her 12-year-old son’s court appearance to go on holiday to Ibiza.
District Judge Joanne Hirst told Manchester Magistrates’ Court she was “frankly astonished” that the boy’s mother had decided to fly abroad for a five-day sunshine break, with her son due in court having admitted two counts of violent disorder.
Judge Hirst adjourned sentencing of the boy and ordered a parental summons so the mother must appear before the court to explain herself.
The boy cannot be identified due to his age.
Days later on August 3, in Manchester city centre, he was part of a group filmed kicking the windows of a vape shop and throwing a missile at a police van.
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.
District Judge Hirst was told the boy’s mother was not present, having booked a holiday in July and gone abroad on Sunday and was only due to fly back to the UK on Thursday, missing his sentencing hearing on Monday.
“I’m frankly astonished.
“I will require a full explanation from mum on her decision to go on holiday one day before her 12-year-old son comes to court facing a potential custodial sentence.
“This is a serious situation, it has now deteriorated in my view because of the actions of the mother.
“She is on notice, I will be challenging her about this decision.”
Addressing the boy as she adjourned sentencing to September 11, Judge Hirst told him: “Boys like you need their mums in their lives. I need your mum here.”
In a separate hearing in the same court, a 16-year-old boy was told he was being given “the biggest chance in your life” by Judge Hirst, who decided to pass a referral order rather than jail the youngster.
The teenager, accompanied by his mother, had admitted violent disorder by throwing a bottle at a police horse during widescale trouble in Bolton town centre last month.
The court heard the youngster’s father had died and his mother, who accompanied him to court, was having treatment for cancer.
He was asked by the judge: “What were you thinking?”
The boy replied: “I was not really thinking anything. We came into town and everything just erupted. Adrenaline. I’m disgusted with myself.”
The youngster’s mother told the court: “He’s frightened to death of going to prison. I think this has been a massive wake-up call.”
The judge warned the youngster he had narrowly avoided custody and instead gave him a 12-month referral order with intensive supervision and a curfew.
She added: “It was mindless violence. I’m going to give you a chance. This is the biggest chance in your life that you will get.”
