Cumbrian teenager pleads guilty to racially aggravated assault in court
The 15-year-old was ordered to pay £100 in compensation to the victim
A teenager from Carlisle has pleaded guilty to a racially aggravated assault in court.
The 15-year-old boy, who cannot be named for legal reasons, appeared before Carlisle Youth Court on Friday (April 25th).
The charge related to an incident on March 15th in the Upperby area of Carlisle, after the teenager targeted a black schoolboy.
The boy had been challenged to a fight several times, but had refused, before he was eventually pinned to the ground.
In the reported incident, the black boy was made to kiss the dirty shoe of the teenager, before he was punched in the stomach several times before a member of the public intervened.
The incident was filmed and later shared online, where it was spread rapidly in the local area.
On Thursday (April 24th), Cumbria Police was given the authority to charge the 15-year-old with racially aggravated common assault by the Crown Prosecution Service.
After pleading guilty to the charge, the boy was given a referral order, meaning he will have to sign a contract committing to work positively with the Youth Justice Service for 12 months.
As well as this, the boy was ordered to pay the victim's court costs - alongside £100 compensation.
Speaking on the case, Detective Inspector Stephen Kidd from Cumbria Police: "We understand this incident resulted in concern from our communities. Hate crime will not be tolerated.
"This has been a complex investigation and this case underlines our commitment to ensuring people responsible for committing hate crimes are held accountable by being put before a court."