A 14-year-old boy has been given a six-month youth referral order after he was found with a knife and cannabis in a supermarket in Widnes, Cheshire, as first reported by the Runcorn and Widnes World.

The boy cannot be named for legal reasons because of his age. He was found with the items at the Morrisons store on Green Oaks Way.

What the court heard

The boy appeared before Warrington Magistrates’ Court, where he pleaded guilty to possession of a knife in a public place and possession of a class B drug. Cannabis is a Class B drug under the Misuse of Drugs Act 1971.

Charlie Hayward, prosecuting, told the court that the offences took place on 18 June. The report did not say how the items were discovered.

The boy, who is from Huyton, was sentenced to a six-month youth referral order.

Costs and orders

He was also ordered to pay £85 in court costs to the Crown Prosecution Service and a £26 victim surcharge. Both sums will be paid by his parent or guardian.

The court also approved an order depriving the boy of the knife, and ordered that the cannabis be forfeited and destroyed.

A youth referral order is a sentence available in youth courts and magistrates’ courts for young people who plead guilty. It generally involves the young person agreeing a programme of work with a youth offender panel.