A Manchester mother has been ordered to pay £1,200 in compensation—equivalent to the cost of her recent holiday to Ibiza—after failing to attend her 12-year-old son’s court sentencing for his involvement in violent summer riots.
The 30-year-old single mother, whose identity is protected to safeguard her son, chose to depart for a five-day trip to Ibiza the day before her son’s court appearance on September 2. Her son, who was accompanied by his uncle, was due to be sentenced for two counts of violent disorder linked to attacks during the riots.
Judge Joanne Hirst, presiding over the case at Manchester Magistrates’ Court, expressed astonishment at the mother’s absence and issued a parental summons. During Wednesday’s court session, the mother explained that she had consulted with her solicitor and the Youth Justice team, and they had informed her that an appropriate adult would be present with her son in her absence.
Judge Hirst, however, ordered the mother to pay £1,200 in compensation, stating that the amount was “approximately the same cost as your holiday to Ibiza.” Additionally, the mother was ordered to participate in a six-month parenting course.
The 12-year-old boy, who was diagnosed with ADHD, had been involved in what the judge described as “the worst type of feral behaviour in our country.” The court heard that the boy participated in an attack on a bus outside an asylum seeker hostel, vandalized a vape shop, threw a missile at a police van, and looted a Sainsbury’s store during the summer riots.
Despite the seriousness of the offences, which would usually result in up to five years in prison for an adult, the boy was given a “chance” by the court. He was sentenced to a 12-month referral order after showing remorse and demonstrating efforts to improve his behaviour. The court was told that he was receiving help from social workers.
In her defence, the mother described her son as a “lovely” child but admitted that his home life was occasionally “chaotic.” The boy’s defence lawyer, Catherine Baird, also emphasized his lack of prior convictions and argued that custody would do more harm than good, given the progress he had been making.
As part of the compensation order, the mother was also instructed to pay £300 each to four affected by her son’s actions during the riots. These individuals included a bus driver, a housing officer at the asylum hostel, a Sainsbury’s staff member, and an asylum seeker who was on the attacked bus.
Judge Hirst concluded by stating that the mother’s decision to prioritize her holiday over her son’s sentencing was irresponsible but expressed hope that the imposed parenting course would provide her with the tools to better support her son in the future.
