[thedorchester]

Finally, common sense has been restored.

A judge criticised police and lawyers yesterday for bringing the case, which has already cost thousands of pounds in taxpayers' money.

District Judge Tim Devas told the youth court where the boy appeared: "I was brought up in the era of Just William. You may not remember it but this incident sounds similar.

"Clearly there are certain things that should be done with a 12-year- old and you shouldn't be bringing them into the court system unless it's absolutely necessary.

"If he has done what was suggested it is very bad behaviour.

"But is it in the public interest to prosecute a 12-year-old boy who threw a sausage?"

The sausage apparently hit the man not on his head, but his shoulder. What makes this matter even more horrific than appears at first sight is the fact that the boy has learning difficulties and attends a special needs school. Whilst it is likely difficult to entrench in the mind of any twelve year old the concept of right and wrong, it is even more difficult for someone with learning difficulties.


A spokesman for the CPS said police charged the boy 'without reference' to the CPS

The same paper reports the following:

In a case last year, Judge Jonathan Finestein criticised a decision to prosecute a boy of ten for calling his schoolfriend racist names in the playground.

He called the move 'political correctness gone mad'.

Surely all those who earlier sought to defend the charge applied to the youngster throwing a sausage are now being made to look sheepish