A young boy from Oldham has been sentenced after taking part in ‘violent disorder’ in Manchester city centre last month.
The 12-year-old – who cannot be named for legal reasons – appeared at Manchester Youth Court yesterday (11 September) where the court heard that he had been involved in two instances of disorder in Manchester city centre – one on 31 July outside a hotel that was believed to be housing asylum seekers, and the second on 3 August around Piccadilly Gardens.
On 31 July at around 6pm, the boy was captured on CCTV as part of a group who were said to have become “aggressive”, and were seen throwing rocks and other missiles at police officers who were trying to protect the staff and residents of the hotel.
A 12-year-old boy from Oldham has been sentenced after taking part in ‘violent disorder’ in Manchester / Credit: GMP
Later, the group – who were in the middle of the road – stopped a bus full of passengers, and the boy was seen on CCTV kicking out at the bus from his bike.
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Following this first incident, the same boy was seen again as part of a disorderly group at Piccadilly Gardens on 3 August, where, at around 3:20pm, the group were moving around the area attacking shop fronts and the boy was filmed with a group of others kicking the front window of a vape shop.
Later, wearing a balaclava to hide his identity, he formed part of a group who appeared to storm a Sainsbury’s Local supermarket.
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The boy knocked over shelves within the store, and during the fracas, he was also seen to throw a missile at a police van.
According to the CPS, the boy “made no comment” in his police interview, but he did plead guilty to two counts of violent disorder at the first court hearing on 12 August 2024, before was was sentenced to a 12-month intensive referral order at Manchester Youth Court yesterday (11 September) and ordered to pay £300 in compensation.
Following the sentencing, John Moran, who is the Senior Crown Prosecutor for CPS North West, said: “It is deeply concerning to see young people engaging in the disorder that has plagued our streets, and the fact this boy took steps to shield his identity shows he knew what he was doing was wrong.
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“The fact the behaviour was repeated increases the seriousness of the acts.
“We will continue to work side by side with the police and our partners across the criminal justice system to ensure justice is delivered robustly and swiftly.”
Featured Image – GMP
News
Arrest made after 14-year-old boy found in critical condition on Market Street
Daisy Jackson
An arrest has been made after a teenage boy was found unresponsive on Market Street in Manchester city centre.
Detectives believe that the boy, 14, was approached by seven males who stole a designer jacket from him.
Following the altercation, he went into cardiac arrest and was rushed to hospital in a critical condition.
Thankfully, the teenager is continuing to recover well.
Detectives from Manchester City Centre Criminal Investigation Department confirmed that an 18-year-old male was arrested yesterday, Thursday 20 February.
He has been arrested on suspicion of robbery and remains in police custody.
Detective Inspector Mark Astbury of GMP’s City Centre Criminal Investigation Department, said: “We hope the victim can continue his recovery following what must have been a terrifying ordeal for him.
“Officers are fully investigating all aspects of this shocking incident that has left a man with serious injuries in hospital.
“Our work doesn’t stop here, we are continuing to investigate this incident and information from the public plays an incredibly important role in our investigations and I ask that the community keep talking to us and keep sharing their concerns with us so our teams can act.”
If you have any information, contact GMP 101 or 0161 856 4305 quoting log 2854 of 16/2/25.
Comedy is being prescribed instead of antidepressants as part of UK trials
Emily Sergeant
Trials are currently underway to see if comedy could be an alternative to antidepressants as a way to reduce NHS costs.
UK tech company Craic Health has secured important funding for its ‘comedy on prescription’ project that’s aimed at helping the Government work with the comedy industry, communities, and organisations on comedy-based social prescriptions in the hope that they can solve financial struggles within the NHS.
The groundbreaking scheme uses stand-up shows and workshops to help people who are isolated, lonely, and vulnerable.
Craic believes comedy is an ‘untapped opportunity’ to improve health and wellbeing, and has a goal to make comedy easier to access, so that it can help communities experience its mental health and social benefits.
To achieve this, the company has started trialling Comedy-on-Prescription experiences in the UK – starting in London, with the potential for expansion – which includes things like curated comedy panel game show events and workshops, and general stand-up comedy shows at some of the capital’s world-famous venues.
Comedy is being prescribed instead of antidepressants as part of UK trials / Credit: Wikimedia Commons
“Mental health issues like loneliness, isolation, and stress are more common than ever,” the company explains.
“So much so that it’s projected that by 2030, mental health problems, particularly depression, will be the leading cause of mortality and morbidity globally, [but] in this challenging world, comedy stands out as a universal language that breaks barriers.
“Research shows that comedy and laughter have powerful effects – they bring people together, create positive connections, and make life more enjoyable.”
Craic Health says that social prescribing, of which Comedy-on-Prescription is a part of, is all about inclusivity, which makes it making it suitable for people of all ages, backgrounds, and abilities.
Its focus is on personalised support, tailored to individual needs and preferences.
Emily Sergeant -
12th September 2024 
