Persistent Offending Lowestoft Teenager Given Custodial Sentence

A teenage boy from Lowestoft has been given a custodial sentence after being caught in possession of a knife and breaching a rehabilitation order.

A teenage boy from Lowestoft has been given a custodial sentence after being caught in possession of a knife and breaching a rehabilitation order.

The 14-year-old appeared before Norwich Magistrates’ Court on Monday 25th September, where he pleaded guilty to possessing a knife in a public place and was sentenced to an eight-month Detention and Training Order.

The incident occurred in the early hours of Thursday 21 September, when the boy breached a rehabilitation order – which included a curfew between 7pm and 7am – and was located by officers at around 4.30am in Hollingsworth Road. When searched, he was found to have a knife in his coat pocket.

The boy – who cannot be named for legal reasons – was subject of an 18-month Youth Rehabilitation Order (with intensive supervision and surveillance) following an appearance before magistrates on Monday 18th September.

At this hearing, he had pleaded guilty to 18 offences occurring this year, as follows: driving whilst disqualified; and driving without insurance on 5 March; handling stolen goods; aggravated vehicle taking; driving whilst disqualified; driving without insurance; and possession of cannabis on 15 May; two burglary other than dwellings (a shed and a garage) on 22 May; assault on an emergency worker on 17 June (where a police officer was bitten); common assault; and criminal damage occurring on 21 June; a burglary at a business in Blyford Road between 10 July and 13 July; possession of cannabis on 20 July; assault on a police officer at Great Yarmouth Police Investigation Centre (where an officer was spat at three times) on 21 July; threatening to destroy or damage property; and using threatening words or behaviour towards a neighbour on 31 July; possession of a knife in a public place on 9 August. The boy had been subject to a previous Youth Rehabilitation Order which had been issued by Norwich Magistrates’ Court on 10th July, for taking a vehicle without consent and driving without a licence and without insurance.

Sergeant Richard Bemment, of Lowestoft Safer Neighbourhood Team, said: “This individual is a prolific offender, which given his age is deeply concerning.

“Despite the best efforts of magistrates to grant him the opportunity for rehabilitation, he seemed intent to not abide by the conditions given to him. When making the decision to grant a custodial sentence on this occasion, the court made reference to his ‘wilful and persistent breach of a Youth Rehabilitation Order’.

“We take no particular pleasure in seeing someone so young having to be detained like this, but we will continue to take the necessary action to safeguard our communities and protect them from any form of criminality.”