Teenager sent offensive message

A TEENAGER who sent an offensive message to a 14-year-old girl and then banged on her front door has been ordered to do unpaid work.

The 17-year-old, who cannot be named for legal reasons, appeared at Ipswich Youth Court for sentencing.

He had pleaded guilty to sending an indecent/offensive message and disorderly behaviour at an earlier hearing.

Prosecution solicitor David Taylor said the message, which included words unprintable in The Evening Star, was sent as an act of revenge after she had ridiculed him.

Mr Taylor said: “She was upset by this and went to a neighbour's house. She saw a group go to her house and the defendant was one of the group.

“When he was interviewed he accepted he kicked at her front door.”

The court heard the offences were in breach of an earlier referral order, imposed after the teenager was convicted of assault and theft.

Mitigating, Diana Infanti said: “He has accepted this is not the way to behave. He had stopped taking medication for ADHD and started drinking and smoking cannabis.

“He withdrew from society. But he is back on his medication and it has made a huge difference to his behaviour. He has a job and a new focus and he is taking his life under control.”

Supporting the 17-year-old, his mother told the court her son had thought he was “rubbish” and an “inadequate” person for needing medication.

She said: “He would get angry and then he stopped taking the pills and all this happened. He has had a testing life.”

Magistrates made the teenager the subject of a community punishment and rehabilitation order with a supervision requirement for 40 hours unpaid work.

He was also ordered to do 40 hours unpaid work. No order was made for compensation or costs.