Far-right fanatic avoids jail after filming assaults

A 15-year-old far-right fanatic who filmed himself assaulting three teenage girls in south west London has walked free from court after avoiding a custodial sentence. Instead he was handed a three year youth rehabilitation order with a criminal behaviour order.

The boy, who we can't name, threw liquid in the faces of the victims in May last year and afterwards added the image of a swastika to one of his videos, replicating far-right films.

The defendant had pleaded guilty in the youth court to three charges of battery.

He admitted possessing a bomb-making manual and dissemination of a terrorist publication on the basis of recklessness.

The court was told the teen suffers from psychosis.

On Friday at the Old Bailey, Mr Justice Jeremy Baker told the teen his behaviour has been "very harmful to the public" and in particular to the three girls he had targeted.

He noted the defendant aspired to go to university, saying: "If that is right, your future is going to be very much better than your childhood adolescence has been."

The judge said that if the defendant did not apply himself, the order could be torn up and he could be brought back to be resentenced, with the likely other option being "immediate detention".

Asked if he understood, the youth replied: "Yes, your honour."

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