A kid who harassed a disabled woman in the street before brandishing a gun and firing the trigger was spared jail time.
The audacious 16-year-old was among a group of youths who verbally abused the ‘very vulnerable’ woman, mocking her race and disabilities.
He then drew a ball-bearing (BB) gun, pointed it towards the ‘terrified and alarmed’ woman and her female companion, and “began to fire.”
The horrific altercation occurred in Blackpool’s Talbot and Brunswick neighborhood, which is beset by gangs of wild youths.
Last month, Blackpool South Conservative MP Scott Benton told the House of Commons that children were responsible for ‘hundreds of offences’ and that an 11-year-old boy was one of the criminal ringleaders.
Mr. Benton stated of the court’s decision not to imprison the BB gun-wielding child, “This exemplifies everything wrong with our country.”
On September 12, the criminal pled guilty to threatening behavior and possession of a pistol when he appeared with his father at Blackpool Youth Court on Thursday.
The court heard that the violent assault was classified as a hate crime due to the racial slurs and disability-related insults directed at one of the victims.
The court agreed that despite the weapon being a BB gun, the incident “may have had terrible repercussions.” In 2018, this weapon murdered a six-year-old boy.
After hearing the teen’s apologies and learning that his mother was ill and that he had begun an apprenticeship as a bricklayer, the court decided not to impose a prison sentence.
The court was informed that he had no prior convictions but had been “reprimanded” for minor instances. A 12-month referral order mandating “intensive” social services supervision has been issued.
As he exited the courtroom with his back to the bench, the kid looked to smirk at his father. A friend of the victims stated, ‘It’s heinous that he’s gotten away with it.’ Our culture is simply too permissive.
The court heard that prior to the event, the child was with eight to ten other juveniles “messing around and smoking” The prosecutor, Elizabeth Hayton, stated, “The guys began to behave horribly” (one of the women). One of the boys drew the revolver from his waistband and aimed it (at the women). Then, he began firing.’
There is no indication that the firearm was loaded, and no rounds were fired.
CCTV footage viewed by magistrates revealed the child, who cannot be identified for legal reasons, pulling out the BB pistol and pointing it towards the women.
Sue Mugford, the youth’s attorney, said that her client was being ‘influenced’ by other youths and requested the court not to impose a jail sentence.
She stated that the BB pistol was not his and that he had been playing with other boys, adding, “He is apologetic; he did not realize his actions would cause those women sorrow.”
When asked why he shouldn’t be put to jail, the child replied, “I’m sorry for what I did.” At the time, it felt like a joke.