Detention for boat wrecker

A juvenile who coerced a friend into a wrecking spree at Greenfield marina was yesterday given an eight-month detention training order.

The 16-year-old, who cannot be named for legal reasons, smashed windows and stole belongings from narrowboats on the canal along with his 15-year-old accomplice, causing more than £1,000 damage.

Oldham Youth Court heard yesterday that the pair stole torches, cigarette lighters and beer, and distressed the owners of the boats so significantly that some are even considering mooring their vessels elsewhere,.

Chris Fallows, defending, said the older of the boys, who has learning difficulties and previous burglary convictions, handed himself into the police a few hours after the attack on February 7, and also named his associate.

Had he not done so, his younger partner would never have been apprehended.

The 15-year-old was given a 12-month supervision order.
Read a full version of this story in our printed and eChron editions.