A 15-year-old Devizes thug has been sentenced over a violent assault and ‘gun’ possession.
The boy, who cannot be named for legal reasons, was handed detention in secure accommodation for six months after pleading guilty to inflicting grievous bodily harm with intent.
It follows an incident on The Green in Nursteed Road on 10 January, where a man in his 20s was attacked with a wooden bat.
The victim suffered a deep cut to his head, missing teeth and a suspected fractured arm.
The boy also admitted possessing an air gun and assaulting a police officer in the town on 8 April. A further charge of criminal damage to a custody cell door was also admitted.
Alongside the six-month detention, Swindon Magistrates’ Court imposed a four-month detention and training order – which is to ‘train’ persistent offenders aged between 12 and 17 in custody.
Sgt Luke Atkinson for Devizes said: “This is completely disgraceful and shocking behaviour that simply will not be tolerated in our community.
“We have seen an increase in youth related crime recently, and we would encourage anyone who sees anything suspicious to contact us immediately. Our officers will always respond swiftly and robustly to reports of this nature.”
