A police van burns as an unruly crowd clashed with police in Southport, northwest England, during the recent riots. (Image: AP Photo)
A 13-year-old girl from Aldershot pleaded guilty to threatening unlawful violence.
A 13-year-old girl from the UK’s Aldershot pleaded guilty to threatening unlawful violence on Wednesday. She was accused of using or threatening unlawful violence during a protest in Aldershot during the recent unrest in the UK.
Far-right violence, in the guise of protests, in English towns and cities took place after misinformation spread about the identity of the alleged perpetrator of the mass stabbing on July 29 at a Taylor Swift-themed dance class in Southport, northwestern England.
The stabbings sparked a riot in Southport the following evening, on July 30, and violence in more than a dozen English towns and cities as well as in Northern Ireland over the ensuing week.
Aldershot is a town in England’s Hampshire and is 68 kilometres away from London.
UK broadcaster BBC did not reveal the name of the girl for legal reasons and said no details of the evidence were given, adding that she was with her parents at the courthouse. It said she pleaded guilty to a single charge.
She was released on unconditional bail, the broadcaster said and the case was adjourned by the Basingstoke Magistrates’ Court to September 30 for pre-sentence reports from the Youth Justice Service after which the sentencing will be delivered.
Two 12-year-old boys on Monday admitted to participating in disorder last week, becoming the youngest to confess to taking part in far-right inspired riots that swept across northern England.
Over 500 people have been charged for taking part in the riots, which followed a July 19 stabbing in which three girls were killed.
One boy, who cannot be named due to his age, pleaded guilty to two charges of violent disorder at a court in Manchester, northwestern England.
He was accused of throwing a missile at a police van during as part of a group that gathered outside a Manchester hotel housing asylum seekers.
District Judge Joanne Hirst said the boy had been more involved in the violence than any other accused person she had seen “coming through these courts, adult or child”.
Another 12-year-old boy admitted to violent disorder in Liverpool Youth Court for his involvement in riots in Southport the day after the knife attack.
He was accused of throwing an object at the police, caught on CCTV, and was granted bail ahead of sentencing on September 17.
The boy who appeared in court in Manchester — accused of taking part in two separate instances of disorder — was remanded in custody until sentencing on September 2.
A stream of young people have appeared in court accused of involvement in riots as the justice system fast-tracks cases related to the disorder from last week.
A 16-year-old girl and 17-year-old boy pleaded guilty to violent disorder at Plymouth Magistrates’ Court in southwest England.
Read More: 13-Year-Old Girl Pleads Guilty To Threatening Violence During Recent UK Unrest, Released On