‘Suicide-bid’ teen spared jail term

A VULNERABLE 16-year-old boy from Mossley who claimed he tried to buy a biological toxin to take his own life was spared prison yesterday.

The defendant, who can’t be named for legal reasons, was sentenced to a 12-month order by Manchester and Salford Magistrates for attempting to buy 10mg of abrin, which is said to be 30 times more deadly than ricin.

The teenager had been on remand in a youth detention unit since his arrest in February by anti-terrorism police.

His defence initially argued he intented to take his own life and the substance was for “peaceful purposes”. District judge Khalid Qureshi dismissed the defence and the teenager pleaded guilty to an attempt to buy a bio-toxin.

Holly Holden, prosecuting, told the court the youngster’s behaviour had been a cause for concern for his parents after his girlfriend ended their relationship. He became withdrawn and took “recreational” drugs, claiming he would be better off dead.

Last December he looked up various toxins on the so-called “dark web”, including ricin and arsenic.

On February 6 he came into contact with an undercover FBI agent posing as a seller, from whom he purchased abrin. A fake package was shipped to him, but not delivered, in a Metropolitan police operation. The Met contacted the North West anti-terror unit. which raided the boy’s home and that of a 16-year-old girl friend, the latter later released without charge.

Reports showed the boy had severe depression and was a suicide risk. Prosecutors accepted there was “no clear evidence” of threats to harm others.

Defending, Robert Moussalli described his client as a socially-awkward boy who spent most of his time on his computer.

Mr Moussalli said: “He made a foolish and dangerous decision to purchase the substance at his lowest ebb. He’s realised what a foolish course of action it was. He has had time to reflect on the things important to him.”

The boy told the court: “I do regret it, I wasn’t really thinking.”

Upon sentencing, Judge Qureshi said he was “impressed” with the teenager’s efforts to use all the help offered him while in custody.”

A destruction order was made for the boy’s mobile phone and computer. His parents were ordered to pay £100 costs.