Colchester: Teen sentenced and two more identified in social club incident
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A teenage boy has been sentenced for his part in an incident in West Bergholt, in Colchester.
Officers were called to the disturbance outside West Bergholt Social Club, in Lexden Road, on the evening of Thursday 17 April.
A number of criminal damage and assault reports had been made.
Officers arrived quickly. The group had dispersed but a teenage boy was arrested close-by. Attempts were then ongoing to identify any others who were involved.
The arrested boy, who was aged 15 at the time and has since turned 16, was charged with assault and criminal damage. He cannot be named in any publication, including on social media, on account of his age. This includes all imagery or footage, which we know has circulated on social media.
He appeared at Colchester Magistrates’ Court on Friday 2 May and admitted both charges.
He was ordered to pay a total of £500 in compensation and a youth referral order which the boy was already subject to was extended by eight months, meaning it now has 12 months to run.
As part of the investigation, two other young people have now been identified.
They are due to attend voluntary interviews.
We'll deal with criminal incidents
Chief Inspector Michelle Sparks, Colchester district commander, said:
“I know this incident has had a real impact upon on residents in West Bergholt and has been subject to extensive media - and social media - coverage.
“Officers across Colchester work incredibly hard to protect our neighbourhoods and, when required, deal with incidents of criminality. Even with investigations which have a significant community impact, the investigative and identification work which then takes place is largely unseen.
“This investigation will now progress appropriately, and we’d ask for everyone, in person and online, to please respect that out of fairness to all involved.”
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