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Bank wants £40,000 from protester Bank wants £40,000 from G20 girl
(41 minutes later)
The Royal Bank of Scotland (RBS) has demanded £40,000 compensation from a 17-year-old girl who admitted attacking a branch during G20 protests in London.The Royal Bank of Scotland (RBS) has demanded £40,000 compensation from a 17-year-old girl who admitted attacking a branch during G20 protests in London.
The girl, who cannot be named, admitted burglary and criminal damage when protesters targeted the Threadneedle Street branch of the RBS on 1 April.The girl, who cannot be named, admitted burglary and criminal damage when protesters targeted the Threadneedle Street branch of the RBS on 1 April.
Prosecution counsel told West London Youth Court the bank wanted to recover its losses. Prosecution counsel told West London Youth Court the bank wanted to recover the losses incurred during the protest.
The girl, who lives in Brighton, was given an eight-month referral order.The girl, who lives in Brighton, was given an eight-month referral order.
As part of her sentence she may be asked to pay a smaller sum of compensation to the RBS. As part of her sentence she may be asked to pay a smaller sum of compensation to RBS.
RBS have gone for compensation in the sum of £40,000 - in my view, this is wholly unjustified Miranda Ching, defence counselRBS have gone for compensation in the sum of £40,000 - in my view, this is wholly unjustified Miranda Ching, defence counsel
Prosecutor Ann Crighton said the bank wanted to recover the losses it suffered during the G20 protest, from the teenager. Prosecutor Ann Crighton said three plate glass windows were broken and several pieces of computer hardware, which cost an estimated £40,000, were stolen.
She said three plate glass windows were broken and several pieces of computer hardware, which cost an estimated £40,000, were stolen. Police saw the girl smashing a computer monitor with a keyboard and flinging the keyboard against a window, breaking it.
The court was told the girl was caught smashing computer equipment. Mrs Crighton said: "She admits breaking through the police cordon and said she had done so to rescue some of her friends who had been contained in a police 'kettle'.
"At the time she got caught up in the heat of the moment. She thought it would be a good idea to go into the [bank's] foyer.
"When she got inside she thought it would be a better idea to smash up the computer.
"She said she changed her mind and tried to throw the computer through the window instead.
"She was seen picking up a keyboard and smashing a window," Mrs Crighton said.
'Other people''Other people'
Defence solicitor, Miranda Ching, argued that the girl, who was born in Scotland, was unemployed and lived on hand-outs from friends and family. She had never claimed benefits. Defence solicitor, Miranda Ching, said that the girl, who was born in Scotland, was unemployed and lived on handouts from friends and family.
"RBS have gone for compensation in the sum of £40,000. In my view, this is wholly unjustified."RBS have gone for compensation in the sum of £40,000. In my view, this is wholly unjustified.
"It may well be that a substantial amount of criminal damage was caused as a whole by other people on 1 April."It may well be that a substantial amount of criminal damage was caused as a whole by other people on 1 April.
"We must look at what my client is charged with and that is IT equipment. That seems to be, at most, one computer keyboard and one computer monitor," she said. "We must look at what my client is charged with and that is IT equipment.
The court also ordered the activist to write a letter of apology and an agreement not to commit further crimes. "That seems to be, at most, one computer keyboard and one computer monitor," she said.
The court heard that the teenager, who was introduced to political activism by her stepfather at an early age, had participated in a series of protests across Britain.
The court also ordered her to write a letter of apology and sign an agreement not to commit further crimes.