Teen’s wait on court order

A teenage boy with serious learning difficulties will have to wait another three months to learn if stringent court conditions which stop him using the internet will be imposed permanently.

The 16-year-old, of Maidstone, was made subject to an interim Sexual Risk Order (SRO) at Maidstone Magistrates’ Court last month despite not having committed any offences.

Kent Police successfully argued the schoolboy’s “concerning behaviour”, the nature of which was not made public at the hearing, warranted the civil order.

Fionagh Green, defending, told the court the order was a “great restriction on his liberty and a breach of his human rights,” which was so broad it stopped him taking out a library book and seriously impeded his ability to go to school.

At a case management hearing at Maidstone Magistrates’ Court on Wednesday Mrs Green said the defence will argue her client does not pose a risk and there is insufficient evidence for the order to be imposed.

The defence proposes to call eight witnesses to a trial in front of District Judge Justin Barron in October.