Teenage boy stole beer and cigarettes in café break-in

Wednesday 31 May 2023

A 14-year-old boy who broke into a café and stole £117-worth of items – including beer, cigarettes, a tray of food and cash – has been bound over for six months and ordered to pay back half the cost.

The teenager, who cannot be named because of his age, broke into Gas Place Café on the night of 2 October.

The owner discovered the break-in the following morning. Empty bottles and the tray had been discarded outside the premises.

Legal Adviser Samantha Morris, prosecuting, told the Youth Court that the teenager had broken in by removing a panel from a wooden door. He was identified by fingerprints he left on it.

The court heard that he had been subject to another binding-over order at the time.

Pictured: The case was heard by the Youth Court.

Advocate Sarah Dale, defending, said that the previous order had been close to expiring at the time of the offence, and that the teenager had improved his behaviour, with positive reports from his school.

She said: "He has stayed out of trouble for nearly eight months, which is a very significant improvement for him.

"The progress he has made over the last few months has been phenomenal."

She added that the teenager might not have been the only culprit, pointing out: "It is evident that there were other young people around at the time. It was impulsive offending."

Magistrate Bridget Shaw said she accepted that others might have been involved and ordered the teenager to pay back £60.

Imposing another binding-over order, she told him: "It's really, really important that you keep out of trouble.

"It's not just to keep the courts happy, or the police happy or anybody else happy.

"It's about looking after your own future."