Teenager locked up after sister recognised him on Woolwich riots CCTV footage

The teenager from Abbey Wood, who cannot be named for legal reasons, appeared at Camberwell Youth Court on Friday (October 7) charged with violent disorder, burglary and handling stolen goods.

Prosecutor Rob Davis told the court that one of the youngster’s two sisters recognised him on Youtube and told their mother, who in turn called the police.

He was arrested at his college on September 12 and charged on the same day. He later pleaded guilty to the offences.

Mr Davis said: “The footage shows police being attacked by a large group of 30 youths throwing furniture and other missiles.

"He is seen on camera throwing three slabs of concrete towards the police line."

Mr Davis also told the court footage showed the teenager waiting outside the Great Harry pub and being handed stolen alcohol and reaching through Pound Mart's smashed windows and grabbing crates of soft drink on August 8.

Later in the night he is seen walking out of Argos with what appears to be jewellery.

Defence counsel Steven Goodger told the court the A* student was angry because his father left the family at an early age.

Mr Goodger said: "He describes it as having an adrenaline rush. He just went along with it and joined in with the others."

Addressing the teenager Judge Sue Green said:"It was certainly a difficult thing for your sister to do, and all credit to her because that is clearly the way you were brought up.

“The public house was burnt to the ground. It was complete devastation, devastation to people’s lives and livelihoods.

“The community that you are part of was destroyed. If it was a once off, it was a pretty impressive way to start.”

She sentenced the 16-year-old to eight months in a young offenders institute for violent disorder and four months each for burglary and handling stolen goods, to run concurrently to each other, but consecutively to the violent disorder sentence.