Blackburn teenage robber hit victim with a wrench (From Lancashire Telegraph)

Blackburn teenage robber hit victim with a wrench

9:04am Thursday 27th September 2012 in News

A 14-year-old boy who attempted to rob three other teenagers and then hit one of them in the face with a wrench has walked free from court after magistrates ruled he had not committed a ‘grave crime’.

Blackburn magistrates heard the boy, who cannot be named because of his age, brandished the wrench and demanded the three youths hand over their mobile phones.

When they refused he hit one of them in the face, causing a fractured jaw, and attempted to strike another but missed.

The boy pleaded guilty to grievous bodily harm with intent, attempted grievous bodily harm with intent and attempted robbery. He was made subject to a referral order for nine months. His solicitor Kerry Green told Blackburn Youth Court he had attention deficiency syndrome.

David Hartley, prosecuting, applied for the case to be sent to the Crown Court as a grave crime. He said the sentencing guidlines for an adult suggested a starting point of six years in custody.

“These are very serious offences,” said Mr Hartley. “He has approached these youths with a wrench in his hand, threatened them and demanded their mobile phones. When that was refused he has struck one of them with the wrench causing a fracture of the jaw near to the eye socket.

Miss Green said guidelines suggested people under 15 should be dealt with at the juvenile court.