Boy, 13, killed lizard and hamster (From St Helens Star)
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Boy, 13, killed lizard and hamster
10:00am Friday 14th September 2012 in News
Boy, 13, killed lizard and hamster
A TEENAGE boy who killed two pets and took five craft knife blades into school has been placed on a scheme designed to control his temper.
The 13-year-old boy, who cannot be named due to legal restrictions, cut and killed a pet lizard and squashed a miniature hamster.
The dates of the offences occurred between Christmas Day, 2010 and January 31, 2011, and June 1, 2011 and July 31, 2011.
He was also found to have caused around £2,100 worth of damage to three TV screens, a games console, mobile phone, tablet computer, toys and clothing.
In October 2011, the teenager took five craft knife blades into school and in the same month damaged shoes, clothes, toys and cushions.
District Judge Miriam Shelvey, sitting at St Helens Magistrates Court, gave the boy a 12-month referral order.
Its aim is to address the issues behind the offending and any problems that may have led to it.
Judge Shelvey explained to him: “When you came to court months ago, I found you guilty in relation to the charges on the court sheet. “I have read a lot about you, including the report from the doctors and court papers.
“The referral order you are going to work through will have your mum present with you. They will talk to you about temper and how you can control it. It’s anger management.
“For those times you did bad things, they will try to get you to think how you feel and look at different ways.
“It will be supportive counselling and will be good for you. They will also talk to you about knife crime and how dangerous it is for you and other people. Also about animal cruelty and suffering you inflicted on them.
“You have been very co-operative so far and the order will help you, so you are not in front of a court for such a serious thing again.”
She told him that failure to co-operate with the order would result in serious consequences.
It was stressed to him, however that the order does not mean that he has a conviction, which could affect his future employment.
