A TEENAGE girl accused of a series of knifepoint robberies on schoolboys is being sent on a live-in three-month horse riding course at taxpayers' expense.

The 17-year-old, who cannot be named, was arrested after detectives were called to a number of incidents close to St Wilfrid’s High School, Duckworth Street.

At Blackburn Magistrates’ Court on Tuesday, she was brought from custody after breaching her bail conditions for a third time.

But the court was told she will only be in Blackburn for a few more days before travelling to the Northern Racing College in Doncaster for a course paid for by the Youth Offending Team.

Yesterday community leaders said the move was ‘ridiculous’, sent out the ‘wrong message’ and well behaved young people would have jumped at the opportunity.

Peter King, defending, said that while his client had breached her bail there was no suggestion she had committed any further offences.

He said the horse racing course was something she “really wants to happen”.

“Its going to be life changing for her and she wants to change her life,” said Mr King.

“Some attendees go on to be jockeys and some to be stable lads.

"That is the plan for my client, supported by the Youth Offending Team and funded by them.”

Allowing a change to bail conditions so the girl can move to Doncaster the chairman of the magistrates said a lot had been said and done on the girl’s behalf.

“It appears you are about to be given a tremendous opportunity,” said the chairman.

The girl has breached her 9pm-7am curfew three times. She is due before Preston Crown Court next month.

She is jointly charged with two other men with four counts of robbery, attempted robbery, receiving stolen goods and having a bladed article in Hancock Street, Blackburn, on February 28.

The robbers made off with £1 and a school blazer in one incident and a Blackberry smartphone in another.

The Lancashire Telegraph understands that the girl is not said by police and prosecutors to be the driving force in the alleged incidents.

The £300 residential 12-week course involves yard duties, looking after racehorses, riding out, attending lectures and studying for qualifications. All meals and accommodation are provided.

The foundation course is open to beginners with no previous experience, but demands a ‘strong desire to work with thoroughbred racehorses’.

If successful, the girl could be found employment in racing stables, continue her apprenticeship or even become a jockey.

Sarah Beattie, who runs the course, said there was particular demand for places during the summer from girls who want to work with horses.

She said the college got some referrals from youth offending teams and other young people associations such as The Prince’s Trust.

Mike Lee, Blackburn with Darwen’s Conservative leader, said: “Bail conditions are not optional. By breaching her bail this girl has shown she is not trustworthy.

“Yet she is being given a chance that anyone else would jump at. It is ridiculous.

“I understand we have to support young people but there’s a line to be drawn because this clearly sends out the wrong message - that you do something wrong and you are given a treat.

“Young people who do behave don’t get the same opportunities.”

Charlotte Linacre, campaign manager at the TaxPayers’ Alliance, said: “It’s unfair to ask taxpayers to fund horse-riding lessons for this teenager or others, when that’s exactly the sort of luxury households would cut back on first themselves when tightening their belts.

“The public finances are in a parlous state and costly schemes like this must prove their effectiveness if they want to keep getting taxpayer funding.”

But Coun Maureen Bateson, executive member for children's services, said: “The council's Youth Offending Team works with key partners to try and turn around the lives of our young people who have found themselves on the wrong side of the law for whatever reason.

"This involves engaging with young people to find activities which interest them in an effort to put them on the right track.

"We know that this works and any costs are far less than sending people to custody.

"It's also about doing what we can to prevent them getting a criminal record and jeopardising their future chances of getting a job later in life.

"However, if the young people don't seize the opportunity given to them then that becomes a matter for the police and criminal justice system."

She said funding for the course would come from the Government.

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