Youth fined by court over attack

http://news.bbc.co.uk/go/rss/-/1/hi/england/merseyside/6298739.stm

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A 15-year-old boy has been fined by a court after attacking a man who was filming a gang of youths outside his Cheshire home.

The teenager, from Wrexham, north Wales, pleaded guilty to affray at Warrington Youth Court. He was also given a 12-month referral order.

Robert Anderson, 55, from Culcheth, was allegedly assaulted after filming four youths damaging a fence at his home.

Three other teenagers deny affray and are to appear in court in February.

On Thursday, the teenager was ordered to pay £100 compensation and £43 costs.

'Goading' claim

The other teenage youths, two aged 15 and a 16-year-old, all from the Warrington area, were bailed to appear at the same court on 15 February for a pre-trial review.

Warrington Youth Court heard that a gang of teenagers swore at Mr Anderson, threw a can at him and tried to grab his video camera before punching him twice in the face.

The 15-year-old, who cannot be named for legal reasons, told the court: "I'm sorry, I've let my family down. It won't happen again."

Nic Parry, defending, said Mr Anderson had goaded the youths by filming them.

"When anybody comes near his property, he is out with his camera," he said.

"The mature man would have stepped back inside the house and rung for the police.

"My client's view is he was goading them, he seemed quite happy to stand there pointing his camera."