A 12-year-old boy involved in an incident which saw Colchester's top policeman dragged along by a car cried as he was sent into custody.

The boy, who cannot be named for legal reasons, admitted two charges of theft, one charge of attempted theft. He also admitted failing to attend sessions as part of a supervision order.

Wearing a T-shirt with Bad Attitude emblazoned on it, the youngster spoke through an interpreter when he appeared at Enfield and Haringey Magistrates' Court.

The court heard that the boy, from north London, was part of group in Colchester on July 26 who tried to distract a man in The Hub on Head Street so they could steal his mobile phone.

When a woman raised the alarm, the boy ran off towards a car in the High Street. Once in the vehicle, the boy and two other youths tried to make their escape.

But Chief Supt Dave Murthwaite, who happened to be passing, had seen what was going on and grabbed the car in an attempt to stop it leaving.

The prosecutor said: "They drove off at quite a speed with CS Murthwaite hanging on."

The policeman was left with cuts and bruises after he had to let go of the car. The vehicle was later stopped on the A12 near the M25 and its occupants were arrested.

Two other mobiles were found in the car, and the boy told police they had been stolen from Harlow.

Elaine Needham, representing the boy, admitted the offences were aggravated by her client's string of previous similar convictions and the fact he had been under a supervision order.

Magistrates imposed an 18-month detention and training order for all of the theft offences. As he was led away from his family, the boy was in tears.

No additional punishment was imposed for his failure to comply with the supervision order, which was revoked.

Published Thursday, September 2, 2004

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