by Alan Quick

A 16-YEAR-OLD who committed driving offences, including taking vehicles without consent in the Crediton area during 2016 has been remanded to a local authority home because of concerns he might get behind the wheel again and kill or injure someone.

The youngster has also been charged with assaulting a police officer, Acting Sgt Jones, in Copplestone and appeared at Exeter Magistrates court on Monday, January 16.

The youth, who cannot be named because of his age, has a history of re-offending and recently removed his electronic tag and went on the run.

It was on Sunday, January 15 that he was caught with a Ford car and at the time of his arrest, when he had to be pinned to the ground by officers before being placed in handcuffs, spat in the face of Acting Sgt Jones.

At the court hearing it was stated that the youth, whose family live in the Crediton area, had offences pending including aggravated vehicle taking, dangerous driving and taking without the owner’s consent.

It was noted that he was on bail for these offences.

During the court hearing it was agreed that a youth detention order would be put in place to protect the public from an unlicensed and uninsured driver.

Magistrates remanded the boy to a local authority home with a doorstep curfew enforced by random police calls, between 7pm and 7am.

CANNABIS

• In an unrelated case, Crediton Police officers were called to an address in the Kennerleigh area on Tuesday, January 17 and located a hydroponics set up with a quantity of cannabis growing.

Crediton Neighbourhood Beat Manager, PC Stevens, said: “A male was arrested and has been placed on bail pending further enquiries.”