Teens admit looting during riots in city

Two teenagers have admitted looting from shops during the Wolverhampton riots – but their identities remain secret by order of a district judge.

Three hours after violence erupted in the city centre a 16-year-old looted a £600 flat-screen television from Sunitek.com in Broad Street.

A 15-year-old burgled Zhapp and E.V. Beckett jewellers in Queen Street as mobs raided stores during the ugliest scenes. The pair, both from Wolverhampton, pleaded guilty to their parts in the August unrest yesterday.

Appearing before the city's youth court, the 16-year-old admitted one char-ge of burglary with intent to steal while the 15-year-old admitted two counts.

District Judge Graham Wilkinson refused Express & Star applications to name each boy – on the grounds identification was in the public interest. He said he had taken into account the fact neither boy had any previous convictions, as well as their ages, but added applications at sentencing hearings would be considered.

Mrs Hilary Peters, prosecuting, told the court the 16-year-old entered Sunitek. com after the shopfront was damaged. He took an LG television set but was spotted by police in Broad Street.

Sunitek.com suffered £15,000 worth of damage in the riots. The shop is yet to reopen. Warning the boy he was facing custody, Mr Wilkinson told him: "This was the third day of rioting – no-one in the country could have failed to be aware of what was going on."

The court heard the 15-year-old entered Zhapp and E.V. Beckett with intent to steal on August 9. Both cas-es were adjourned to Nov-ember 10 for reports to be prepared. The youths were granted unconditional bail.

Hundreds of people congregated in Queen Square before splinter groups broke off fighting police. The Express & Star was granted permission to name one youth, Cassius Taylor. Magistrates allowed identification after the 17-year-old admitted launching a missile at police in Lichfield Street.

He will be sentenced on October 24 after admitting violent disorder.