Two Penrith teens have appeared in court accused of breaching an injunction designed to keep them out of trouble and protect the public.
The pair were among four boys to appear in front of Carlisle magistrates last month when they were served with antisocial behaviour injunctions (ASBIs).
Officers working on Eden’s neighbourhood policing team identified the quartet as being involved in a series of alleged crime and disorder incidents during the past year.
A knuckle duster is said to have been used as the four — aged between 14 and 17 — allegedly attacked another young person who suffered a broken jaw.
There was also alleged involvement in other violent incidents — some involving punch attacks and BB gun discharge. Also alleged was lower level antisocial conduct: a fire alarm being set off and a supermarket evacuated; incidents at Penrith’s McDonalds; shoplifting; and use of drugs and alcohol.
Magistrates approved the imposition of ASBIs with the boys agreeing through a solicitor to abide by a raft of strict conditions. A power of arrest was also attached in the event of any breaches.
On Friday, two of the boys, both aged 17, were brought back to the city court. They stand accused of breaching one condition by entering one of four specified Penrith exclusion zones on 27th September. One teen is also accused of a copycat breach on 28th September — less than a fortnight after the orders were made.
Gail Heard, prosecuting for Cumbria police, said alleged ASBI breaches were brought as a civil contempt of court, potentially carrying up to several months’ detention. The orders were served last month on the boys and on parents at court. “There is no doubt, with regard to service of the order, the knowledge of these young men of the order and its terms,” said Ms Heard.
The boys neither accepted nor denied the alleged breaches and their case was adjourned to a youth court hearing on 13th October. In the meantime both were bailed on the same conditions specified by the ASBIs.
Lead magistrate Keith Southward warned the boys they could be detained in custody in the event of breaches. “You are youths but you are almost adults. It is time to start behaving like it,” he said.
