Strange Definition Of ‘Good Lad’…

His dad, who attended the case on Wednesday last week, said: “He can be a good lad. It’s just he has to learn to accept the word ‘no’.”

Doesn’t every teenager?

Barkingside Magistrates’ Court was told how the 16-year-old from Dagenham, who cannot be named for legal reasons, became irate when he could not find his cannabis grinder at his family home.

He then asked his mum for cigarettes and, when denied, took one anyway and threw it at it her before marching upstairs.

When he was unable to find his auxiliary cable to listen to music, he messaged his sister asking to borrow hers – but she refused. He then broke into her room and sent her a picture of the scene.

What a lovely family! And how heartening that they are seemingly prepared to put up with his cannabis habit, but not with theft and violence?

Why, if it wasn’t for low standards, they’d have no standards at all…

Chief magistrate David Hartshorn gave the defendant, who pleaded guilty, a 12-month conditional discharge so he had something “hanging over” him.

I know what I’d like to see hanging over him…