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Youths named after paper's challenge

Two 15-year-old boys have been named by the Bolton Evening News after a Crown Court judge heard from one of its reporters.

The boys, who had committed three street robberies including one where another boy was threatened with a screwdriver, appeared for sentence at Bolton Crown Court.

Reporter Roger Williams went to the court believing only one juvenile was due before the judge and that an Anti Social Behaviour Order was also being applied for – but when he arrived at court he found there were two youths, and no ASBO application.

He approached the clerk with a letter for the judge and after her deliberations, Judge Gillian Ruaux decided to allow the boys to be named.

In court she said: “These two young men have committed offences against the community and in the normal course of events the community is entitled to know what the situation is, as in any judgement. They ought to be named.”

Evening News deputy editor Ian Savage said: “We are determined to fight for criminals such as these to be named in the public interest.

“We are delighted that the judge agreed with our view and will continue to press the courts to identify such violent and persistent offenders in the future.”

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