This is North Devon -- A COURT has refused to identify a prolific teenage criminal who has cost businesses across North Devon hundreds of pounds. The 17-year-old girl from Barnstaple appeared at North Devon Youth Court this morning where she pleaded guilty to five charges of making off without paying, at a cost of more than £350 to five businesses in Bideford. The girl has a string of previous convictions, many for making off without paying, which include theft and threatening behaviour. Because the girl is under 18 and appeared in a youth court she was granted automatic anonymity by the court. When the girl last appeared in court in March, charged with two counts of making off without paying and theft, the Journal applied to the court to lift her anonymity. The request was rejected by Magistrates. This week Journal reporter Joel Cooper asked the court again to lift the girl's anonymity. He argued it was in the public interest to name the girl because of the persistent and serious nature of her offending, as well as to allow businesses to protect themselves from her in the future. However, the court again refused to publicly identify the girl on the basis that her court appearance this week concerned offences committed before her previous hearing. Presiding magistrate Rose Day said: "We are turning down this application on the grounds that these offences were not committed after her previous hearing in March, therefore our colleague's ruling cannot be superseded. "However, if there is any repetition of her offending we will consider this application afresh." The court heard the girl's offences occurred in Bideford between February 9 and February 19 this year. Mark Haddow, for the prosecution, said the girl and a friend had been in the Riverbank Bistro on February 9 where they had meals and drinks. He said: "They told staff they were going outside for a cigarette and walked away. "An employee recognised them and even saw pictures she had posted on Facebook of the meal saying she'd had a smashing time that night." Mr Haddow said three of the offences took place on February 10 when the girl went on "a bit of a spree". He said: "The girl and her friends ordered drinks at the Durrant House Hotel where she was seen by CCTV leaving with a pint glass. "They then went to the Riversford Hotel and ordered more alcoholic drinks. "The defendant smashed a glass and was asked to leave. "They offered a card for payment but it was declined and they had no cash on them." The court heard the group then went to the Paramount Chinese restaurant where they ordered so much food they could not possibly eat it all. Mr Haddow said: "They were seen heading off and recognised by a member of staff. "They left the table in a mess including sauce bottles dripping on the carpet." Mr Haddow said the final offence occurred on February 19 at the Sagor Tandoori where the girl and a friend ordered food and drinks. He said: "Someone from a neighbouring restaurant recognised her and told the owners to beware. "The girl and her friend went to go outside for a cigarette but were stopped by the manager who asked them to pay for their order first. "The girl barged past him but he locked the doors and called the police." The offences totalled £359 of combined loss to the businesses. The girl also pleaded guilty to a separate offence of unacceptable behaviour on a railway when she was seen swearing and shouting at Exeter St David's train station. Jeremy Tricks, for the defence, said the girl had stopped this manner of offending and is now cooperating with the Youth Offending Team (YOT). Speaking in court the girl said she was sorry and ashamed and agreed that the businesses which lost out could be angry. The girl's guardian told the court she is now being honest and trustworthy is making huge efforts to overcome her past. The girl's current youth rehabilitation order was revoked and she was sentenced to another youth rehabilitation order for six months. She was also ordered to pay a £15 victim surcharge but no order for compensation was granted. Presiding Magistrate Rose Day said: "We've heard some very positive things about you and we're pleased things are improving. "You have said you are ashamed of your actions and we hope through the YOT you can send letters of apology to the businesses for your behaviour. "You are 17 now but once you're 18 in the adult court things will be very different so take this opportunity and put all this behind you."
Reported by This is 20 hours ago.
This is North Devon -- A COURT has refused to identify a prolific teenage criminal who has cost businesses across North Devon hundreds of pounds. The 17-year-old girl from Barnstaple appeared at North Devon Youth Court this morning where she pleaded guilty to five charges of making off without paying, at a cost of more than £350 to five businesses in Bideford. The girl has a string of previous convictions, many for making off without paying, which include theft and threatening behaviour. Because the girl is under 18 and appeared in a youth court she was granted automatic anonymity by the court. When the girl last appeared in court in March, charged with two counts of making off without paying and theft, the Journal applied to the court to lift her anonymity. The request was rejected by Magistrates. This week Journal reporter Joel Cooper asked the court again to lift the girl's anonymity. He argued it was in the public interest to name the girl because of the persistent and serious nature of her offending, as well as to allow businesses to protect themselves from her in the future. However, the court again refused to publicly identify the girl on the basis that her court appearance this week concerned offences committed before her previous hearing. Presiding magistrate Rose Day said: "We are turning down this application on the grounds that these offences were not committed after her previous hearing in March, therefore our colleague's ruling cannot be superseded. "However, if there is any repetition of her offending we will consider this application afresh." The court heard the girl's offences occurred in Bideford between February 9 and February 19 this year. Mark Haddow, for the prosecution, said the girl and a friend had been in the Riverbank Bistro on February 9 where they had meals and drinks. He said: "They told staff they were going outside for a cigarette and walked away. "An employee recognised them and even saw pictures she had posted on Facebook of the meal saying she'd had a smashing time that night." Mr Haddow said three of the offences took place on February 10 when the girl went on "a bit of a spree". He said: "The girl and her friends ordered drinks at the Durrant House Hotel where she was seen by CCTV leaving with a pint glass. "They then went to the Riversford Hotel and ordered more alcoholic drinks. "The defendant smashed a glass and was asked to leave. "They offered a card for payment but it was declined and they had no cash on them." The court heard the group then went to the Paramount Chinese restaurant where they ordered so much food they could not possibly eat it all. Mr Haddow said: "They were seen heading off and recognised by a member of staff. "They left the table in a mess including sauce bottles dripping on the carpet." Mr Haddow said the final offence occurred on February 19 at the Sagor Tandoori where the girl and a friend ordered food and drinks. He said: "Someone from a neighbouring restaurant recognised her and told the owners to beware. "The girl and her friend went to go outside for a cigarette but were stopped by the manager who asked them to pay for their order first. "The girl barged past him but he locked the doors and called the police." The offences totalled £359 of combined loss to the businesses. The girl also pleaded guilty to a separate offence of unacceptable behaviour on a railway when she was seen swearing and shouting at Exeter St David's train station. Jeremy Tricks, for the defence, said the girl had stopped this manner of offending and is now cooperating with the Youth Offending Team (YOT). Speaking in court the girl said she was sorry and ashamed and agreed that the businesses which lost out could be angry. The girl's guardian told the court she is now being honest and trustworthy is making huge efforts to overcome her past. The girl's current youth rehabilitation order was revoked and she was sentenced to another youth rehabilitation order for six months. She was also ordered to pay a £15 victim surcharge but no order for compensation was granted. Presiding Magistrate Rose Day said: "We've heard some very positive things about you and we're pleased things are improving. "You have said you are ashamed of your actions and we hope through the YOT you can send letters of apology to the businesses for your behaviour. "You are 17 now but once you're 18 in the adult court things will be very different so take this opportunity and put all this behind you."
Reported by This is 20 hours ago.