IN COURT: Arrested boy put in restraints

11:37am Friday 16th May 2008

ARM and leg restraints were used to subdue a teenager arrested after he shouted abuse at a supermarket's deputy manager.

He yelled obscenities at the woman in the Tesco store at Kingsmead, near Northwich.

You’re not a small lad and the shop assistant feeling intimidated must have been quite scary for her. It is a serious offence.

Chairman of the bench Moira Chapman

Appearing at Vale Royal Youth Court, the 16-year-old from Leftwich, who cannot be named for legal reasons, admitted shouting abusive swear words and struggling against arresting officers.

The court heard how leg and wrists restraints had to be used to be used to subdue the defendant.

Mairead Neeson, prosecuting, said duty manager Karen Talbot saw the teenager come in to the store with another youth who had been banned for shoplifting.

When she asked him to leave, the defendant, who hopes to join the armed forces, started hurling abuse at her, causing her to feel scared and intimidated'.

She called the police who arrested him at the scene in spite of his struggles.

Matthew Coupe, defending, said the defendant, whose adoptive mother died 18 months ago, put up a fight because he did not think he had done anything so wrong as to merit an arrest.

Passing sentence, chairman Moira Chapman said: "You're not a small lad and the shop assistant feeling intimidated must have been quite scary for her. It is a serious offence."

His existing referal order for theft was extended by three months and he was ordered to pay costs of £43.