I Guess Videogames Do Cause Violence Sometimes…

The youngster told the court: “It was out of character for me and stupid. I shouldn’t really have done it.”

The court also heard he had been bullied at school, and would struggle to cope in prison. But he was hoping to go to university and pursue a career in art.

His mother told the court: “He is painfully shy and it does come across a little bit as arrogance. I’m really proud of him that he stayed in school and it’s quite a drop to go from looking at prospectuses to go to university, to being here today.

“I believe in him. It’s so out of character for him – he’s gentle and polite.”

Goodness me, so what did he do?

Oh, just armed home invasion, that’s all:

…he forced his way into a tower block flat armed with a knife.

The 17-year-old, from Leigh, targeted the home in Brecon flats, Salisbury Avenue, Westcliff, while the terrified householder was inside.

Keith Rylands, prosecuting, said the victim was accused of having the boy’s Xbox and this had led to the victim’s home being raided.

For once, the bench weren’t about to look favourably on him. Which makes me wonder what reports they saw…

… Ian Kirby, chairman of the bench, said they had no option but to send the boy to a young offenders’ institution for four months.

He told the boy’s parents: “I’m very sorry. We looked long and hard at the case of keeping him out, but this is just too serious.”

Well, well, well….