'It was the first time your mum and dad let you go into town on your own to spend your birthday money... what on earth happened?'
A teenager had been allowed to go into Manchester city centre on his own for the first time - and became embroiled in the riots.
The 14-year-old, who cannot be named due to his age, was one of a large group who attacked a vape shop front on August 3. After being shown the shocking footage of his involvement, he said it looked ‘more scary’ than how it had been at the time.
Disorder hit towns and cities across the country, including in Greater Manchester, followed the fatal stabbings of three girls at a Taylor Swift-themed dance club in Southport last month. Incorrect rumours – that the suspect in the stabbings was an asylum seeker who arrived in the UK on a small boat – spread on social media and appears to have fuelled the trouble.
PICTURED: More rioters, a nursery worker and a teenager desperate to hide the truth amongst those locked up this week
During the disorder on August 3 in Manchester city centre, the boy was one of many caught on camera booting the front door of the shop on Moseley Street He was stopped by police, but instead gave the police a false name, Manchester Magistrates Court previously heard. He pleaded guilty to violent disorder and obstructing a police constable.
In CCTV footage shown to the court, a staff member inside Sainsburys hid to one side as a large group of masked men burst into the store. Within seconds items were thrown across the floor as many picked up bottles of alcohol and other items and walked out.
Mobile phone footage was also recovered of the attack upon the vape shop a few doors down from the supermarket of Mosley Road. Again, a large group of masked men were seen kicking at the glass front of the store, whilst one person threw a sign at the window.
Addressing the boy this