Boy, 14, who spat at cop 'looking prison in the eye'

JUDGE SAYS HE SHOULD BE ASHAMED’ OF COWARDLY BEHAVIOUR’

- AMY WALKER

A JUDGE told a teenager he should be 'ashamed' after he spat in the face of a police officer during the large-scale disorder in Bolton town centre.

The 14-year-old, who cannot be named for legal reasons, was one of a large group of youths walking around the area in the aftermath of the unrest, each of them wearing face coverings.

As an officer was patrolling around the Octagon Theatre, he was 'swarmed' by the group, with the boy being 'verbally abusive' towards him' The group then made an 'arc' around the officer before the boy spat at him and immediately ran away. The officer felt the spittle hit him in the face, as well as on his arm and trouser leg.

The boy has pleaded guilty to violent disorder and assaulting an emergency worker.

"As the officer went to detain him, his cap was snatched from his face by another member of the group," prosecutor Ewan Cooper told Manchester Magistrates' Court.