HERE'S a selection of court cases featured in this week's Barnsley Chronicle:
A 15-year-old Barnsley boy set fire to a supermarket display when he attempted to recreate an experiment he had previously conducted at school.
The boy, who cannot be identified due to legal reasons, appeared at Barnsley Youth Court charged with arson and theft from a shop. The arson had been committed at the Asda Store in Welfare Road, Thurnscoe, on April 6 this year.
The court was told he set fire to a shelf of crisps then ran from the store taking a basket full of groceries valued at £50 without paying. The lad was caught by security staff as he tried to make good his escape. Fire-fighters were called to the store and established the blaze had been started deliberately.
Police studied CCTV footage which showed the boy starting the fire with a cigarette lighter. The fire destroyed the shelf of crisps valued at £237.
The court was also told Asda lost £1,500 in takings because the store had to be evacuated. The boy pleaded guilty to both offences.
In mitigation his solicitor Alan Greaves told the court the defendant had suffered sexual and physical abuse as a youngster. He is now cared for by a relative after he was taken from his mother at the age of four. The court was also told he now suffers from mental health problems including ADHD and autism.
Mr Greaves explained the lad had not intended to cause the fire but was instead trying to recreate an experiment at school which demonstrates how air expands when exposed to heat.
The lad was made subject of a nine month referral order whereby he must work with youth offending specialists to ensure he keeps out of trouble in future. His guardian, who was with him in court, was also ordered to pay a total of £287 in compensation and £85 costs.
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A 12-YEAR-old boy assaulted three members of staff at a residential care home and also sexually assaulted one of them, a court was told.
The boy, who cannot be named for legal reasons, appeared at Barnsley Youth Court where he faced six charges including sexual assault, common assault, using offensive language and criminal damage.
The boy, who is living in a care home in Leicestershire, admitted assaulting three of his carers after one had her hair pulled and another was pelted with horse manure. The court was told he also fondled the bottom of one member of staff and that he placed his hand near to her genital area and pushed his face towards her breasts.
He was also said to have caused £150 damage when he smashed a bedroom door off its hinges. He entered guilty pleas to all matters.
When asked if he had anything to say the baby faced offender hung his head and replied to the court: "I want to say sorry for what I have done. I shouldn't be here today, I should be at home or at school."
The boy was made subject of a nine month referral order where he will enter into a contract with youth offending specialists who will work with him. Leicester City Council, which is responsible for the boy's care, was ordered to pay £250 compensation and court costs of £85.
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A MAN who conducted a 'dirty protest' in a cell at Barnsley Police Station has appeared in court.
Barnsley Magistrates' Court was told that Jason Batley had been arrested following an alleged assault on Friday night. He was locked in the cells waiting for the court to open on Monday.
But on Sunday he decided to make a protest by defecating on the cell floor. He then picked up his own excrement and smeared it on the walls and door. The whole process was picked up on CCTV.
Batley, 46, of Well Lane, Monk Bretton, pleaded guilty to a charge of damage. He was given a 12 month conditional discharge and ordered to pay £65 in compensation to pay for the cell to be cleaned.
