13-year-old attacker - prison not an option

[SomeGuy]

www.dailyecho.co.uk/news/4466220.Pensioner_s_horrific_attack_by_13_year_old_boy/
'A DRUNKEN thug aged just 13 who left a disabled pensioner in a pool of blood after a horrific attack in her Southampton home has been freed to walk the streets.

Her ordeal began after the teenager, who had drunk a bottle of red wine, burst into her lounge and attacked her with punches, kicks and a knife.

Prosecutor Siobhan Linsley told Southampton Crown Court how the youth rained blow after blow on the frail woman, repeatedly punching and kicking her head and stomach.

At one stage, Mrs Ogborn, who uses a walking frame, struggled to her knees but was floored again. Ms Linsley described how the teenager smashed ornaments and plates on the floor while demanding the pensioner?s bank card PIN number. He also threatened to kill her dogs.

After the attack Mrs Ogborn spent a night in hospital. She had stitches in her head and spent many weeks in a care home.

She said the ordeal seemed to ?go on for hours?. At one stage she feigned unconsciousness in the hope the attack might stop.

Mrs Ogborn said: ?The blood was just spilling out. It was all over the settee and floor.?

The pensioner cannot sleep at night without a light on and is petrified of the dark. She is so afraid to be alone that she does not want her carer to leave the house.

Judge Hope said his sentencing was constrained by the law because of the boy?s age but told him that if he had been older, his time in custody would have been measured in years. The judge could not jail the teenager, who admitted burglary and wounding, because at the time of the offence he was under 14 and was not a persistent offender. '

What should happen? Accept that he'll probably get beaten up by others on his estate?

[Alambil]

they should hold him in a locked young offenders place til he's old enough to be tried

That's utterly, utterly ridiculous and gives out such a shitty message

poor, poor woman

[tiredemma]

Why cant he be lockd up- I thought the lower age was 10 years old.

Little shit

[HecatesTwopenceworth]

what happened to Borstal?

I wish there were consequences for behaviour like this, I really do. It's a fecking joke.

[PeedOffWithNits]

bloody disgraceful!!

only a matter of time before he re-offends and if capable of that degree of violence at such an age, who knows what he'll do next

[Disenchanted3]

Fucking hell,

yeah just leave him till hes 15 and kills some old dear.

Fucking scum

[edam]

Why couldn't they send him to secure accommodation? I don't understand. (I'm not doubting what the judge said about his powers, just confused by the system.)

[SomeGuy]

I imagine the sentencing guidelines say you have to be a persistent offender to be sent away.

It must be an absolutely nightmare being terrorised by feral children. It looks like the law can hardly touch them, and if their parents don't care there's not much that can be done.