Mother’s Ibiza holiday delays 12-year-old son’s sentencing for UK riots disorder

Boy faces being locked up after playing ‘greater part in recent civil disorder than any adult or child’ seen by judge

Rioting took place in a number of UK cities, including Rotherham (pictured), following stabbings in Southport in July

An “astonished” judge has been forced to delay the sentencing of a 12-year-old boy involved in violent far-right riots because his mother is on holiday in Ibiza.

District Judge Joanne Hirst told Manchester Magistrates’ Court on Monday that she was “frankly astonished” the boy’s mother had decided to fly abroad for a five-day break, with her son due in court having admitted two counts of violent disorder.

The judge issued a summons for the mother and said the boy, who cannot be identified due to his age, faces being locked up after playing “a greater part in the recent civil disorder than any adult or child I’ve seen coming through these courts”.

The youngster, who was accompanied to court by his uncle, had earlier admitted being part of a mob that attacked a bus outside a hotel housing asylum seekers in Manchester on 31 July.

Days later on 3 August, in Manchester city centre, he was part of a group filmed kicking the windows of a vape shop and throwing a missile at a police van.

Far-right demonstrators take part in a protest at Piccadilly Gardens in Manchester on 3 August

District Judge Hirst was told the boy’s mother was not present, having gone on holiday on Sunday and was due to fly back to the UK on Thursday.

She thanked the boy’s uncle for accompanying his nephew to court in his mother’s absence, but added: “One day before the hearing we find out the mum has gone on holiday and is not with her son who played a greater part in the recent civil disorder than any adult or child I’ve seen coming through these courts.

“I’m frankly astonished.

“I will require a full explanation from mum on her decision to go on holiday one day before her 12-year-old son comes to court facing a potential custodial sentence.

“This is a serious situation, it has now deteriorated in my view because of the actions of the mother.

“She is on notice, I will be challenging her about this decision.”

Addressing the boy as she adjourned sentencing, Judge Hirst told him: “Boys like you need their mums in their lives. I need your mum here.”

A Little Thought:

Her non attendance in court with her son speaks volumes and even though he can’t be named, I think she should be named and shamed.

Is she a Katie Price fan by any chance? If you recall she did the same thing with no penalty.

This is why the youngsters of today are causing so much trouble on many fronts, with a mother of that attitude what example is she setting ?

A shameful example in my books.

Tuesday Motivation

Sir Ian McKellen says he is fine but has ‘emotional residues’ after onstage fall

Actor, 85, says he is taking the rest of the year off after accident in June but plans to keep playing Gandalf

Ian McKellen says he has recuperated from the broken bones he suffered after falling from the stage in June, but is still emotionally recovering from the incident.

The 85-year-old actor told the BBC he planned to continue working after being forced to take off the rest of the year because of the fall.

The double Oscar nominee snapped his wrist and chipped a vertebra when he fell from a stage playing John Falstaff in a performance of Player Kings at the Noël Coward theatre in June.

“I shall just keep at it as long as the legs and the lungs and the mind keep working,” McKellen said on BBC Radio 4’s Today programme.

He added: “I’m physically recovered. I broke my wrist, which is what every kid who falls off his bike does, and that’s all right now. Chipped a little vertebra. Left a bit with a few aches and but not pains.”

But he added: “It’s emotionally that I’ve got some residue that I’ve got to deal with … I think there’s something inside me that has to be calmed down. But I’m feeling fine.”

He confirmed that he feared his career was over as he fell from the stage. McKellen said: “I said to myself as I slid off the stage, ‘This is the end.’ Apparently I shouted out, ‘My neck is broken, I’m dying.’ I don’t remember saying that. So there was a lot going on in my head.”

He added: “It seemed to be the end of something, but it was the end of Falstaff.”

McKellen also confirmed that his fall was broken by wearing a fat suit. He said: “I was playing Falstaff, who is a fat man, and I wore a fat suit to make me look fat – padded you see – no problem with ribs or my hips.”

In a separate interview with the Big Issue, McKellen said he was determined to continue playing the role of Gandalf in the Lord of the Rings films. He played Gandalf in the Hobbit trilogy and will appear again in the role in The Hunt for Gollum, the latest instalment of the franchise due for release in 2026.

He told the magazine: “Enthusiasm for The Lord of the Rings shows no sign of abating. I may even be going back to play Gandalf again.”

He added: “I can’t tell you any more than that. I’ve just been told there are going to be more films and Gandalf will be involved, and they hope that I’ll be playing him.

“When? I don’t know. What the script is? It’s not written yet. So, they better be quick.”