Yob strikes again - but E&S banned from naming him

And the Express & Star has been banned from identifying the 16-year-old thug who attacked the man as he lay on the ground, because magistrate Beryl Farrow said naming him was "not in the public interest".

She said the boy needed to "get on with his life" and that she hoped he had learned the error of his ways as she refused a request to lift reporting restrictions.

He was handed a youth rehabilitation order at Wolverhampton Magistrates Court and told to take part in 15 hours of activities, and 12 months of supervision, and ordered to pay £25 costs and a £15 victim surcharge.

The boy's solicitor claimed that his victim had shouted racial insults at him and his accomplice before the attack.

It can be revealed today that the yob had already been detained for six months in a young offenders institution for burglary during the riots that broke out in Wolverhampton in August last year.

He burgled Zhapp and EV Beckett jewellers in Queen Street as mobs raided stores during the ugliest scenes.

The riots left the stores with repair bills for £33,000 and £50,000 respectively.

But on September 15 the boy, from Wolverhampton, was one of two teenagers who were caught on camera attacking the pensioner at the bus station in Pipers Row.

After his 15-year-old accomplice kicked the man first and he fell over, the older thug jumped in the air and stamped on his chest.

Police had released footage of the attack at the bus station, and more than 20,000 people viewed the sickening images online. The video caused outrage from members of the pubic after it was published on the E&S website. It was that public appeal which led to the 16-year-old's arrest after his teacher identified him from the footage.

A police community support officer identified the other attacker.

Wolverhampton magistrate Mrs Farrow said that despite the attack happening at 8pm, when the station was busy, and his previous convictions, naming him was "not in the public interest".

Mrs Lauranne Middleton, prosecuting, said: "He does have a warning for criminal damage and actual bodily harm.

"He also has a previous conviction on November 10 for his first non-dwelling burglaries. He was detained for six months, and it was riot-related."

Mr David Dorrance, defending, said the elderly man had shouted racial insults at the boys before the attack. The other youth was earlier cautioned by police for his part in the assault.

By law, juveniles in the youth court cannot be named in news reports but magistrates are allowed to waive their anonymity if it is in the public interest.

Mrs Farrow, after receiving legal advice, refused to do so yesterday. Turning to the yob in the dock she said: "You're 16 years old. You get about quite a bit."

The boy replied: "Yes."

Mrs Farrow added: "As you get out and about you meet a lot of people, not all of them nice. It's part of being grown-up. You have got to learn to keep on walking away or keep your temper."

She told the E&S, which had asked to be able to name the yob: "We have read your letter and heard your comments asking to name him.

"But we don't think the reporting restrictions should be lifted as it does not serve a purpose and is not in the public interest.

"He needs to get on with his life. Let's hope he has learnt from it."