Justice catches up with teen tearaway who admitted serious crimes in Wigan

The 14-year-old, who cannot be named for legal reasons, was just 12 when he embarked on his crime spree, including breaking into a college building, wielding a knife at a train station, stealing a car and injuring someone while behind the wheel.

The fugitive teenager was due to appear at Wigan Youth Court last December to answer the charges dating back to October 2018, but he did not turn up and the court heard issued a warrant for his arrest.

But after months of evading the law, the youngster was finally punished for his crimes at Wigan Youth Court earlier this month.

He was awaiting sentence for offences including possession of a blade, aggravated vehicle-taking, failing to stop after a road accident, and driving while disqualified.

He had pleaded guilty to all counts at a hearing in December, but a warrant had to be issued for his arrest after he failed to show up for his sentencing.

In a previous hearing earlier this year, a member of the Youth Offending Team told the bench that they had not heard from the boy or his family since early December 2019.

The first charge related to an incident in October 2018, when he broke into the Wigan and Leigh College building in Parson’s Walk, with an intent to steal.

On November 21 2019, the boy was caught in possession of a Stanley knife at Wigan Wallgate railway station.

On the same day, he breached a previously imposed criminal behaviour order, by being in the company of another person he was prohibited from seeing.

He also admitted that on November 27, he stole a Peugeot Partner van and that, while driving it in Scot Lane caused an accident that left a woman injured. He failed to stop at the scene following the accident.

That same day, the teenaged driver also caused damage to a lamppost and another vehicle, a Ford Focus, in Lancaster Road.

The court also heard of previous crimes such as breaking into a house in Winstanley, causing £2,380 of damage to shop windows and causing harassment and distress to several people, for which he had already been convicted and therefore received no separate penalty.

The court imposed a 91-day youth rehabilitation order, during which the boy must participate in activities with the Youth Justice Targetted Offending Team.

He was also given a 12-week curfew, preventing him from leaving his house from 7pm-7am, and he must also adhere to a supervision requirement for the next 18 months.

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