15-year-old boy caught selling spice in city centre
POLICE SAY CHILDREN ARE GETTING DRAWN IN TO DEALING DRUG THAT’S PLAGUING PICCADILLY
POLICE say children are getting ‘drawn in’ to drug dealing after a 15-year-old boy was caught selling Spice to a rough sleeper in Piccadilly Gardens.
The teenager, from Gorton, was arrested and hauled into court after he was spotted by plain clothes officers offering the ‘zombie drug’ to a homeless man.
GMP say they are working hard to stop youngsters falling into the illicit trade, but ‘make no apology’ for using their powers to prosecute if necessary.
The youth, who cannot be named for legal reasons, has now been convicted of possession of Spice with intent to supply at Manchester Youth Court. He was given a Criminal Behaviour Order (CBO) which bans him from Piccadilly Gardens for two years.
Despite being only 15, his criminal offending dates back five years, police said.
Officers with GMP’s City Centre division told of the boy’s conviction on their Facebook page on Thursday night, adding: “This reflects the level of concern raised by those who live near, work in or visit Piccadilly Gardens, and also because Spice has taken root amongst those on the streets, who are one of our most vulnerable communities.
“Sadly, dealing has drawn in young people. We are working hard to prevent young people becoming involved, but we make no apology for using the full range of enforcement tools and powers available to us if that doesn’t work.”
The boy’s arrest was part of GMP’s Operation Mandera – a long-term police initiative focusing on crime and anti-social behaviour around the city centre.
This year, Mandera has focused on Spice dealing, using high visibility patrols and plain clothes officers.
Police confirmed that the 15-year-old from Gorton was seen by plain clothes officers in Piccadilly Gardens in March this year offering Spice to a rough sleeper. He was detained and found to have two ‘snap bags’ of Spice on him.
He appeared in youth court last week and was convicted of possession of Spice with intent to supply. Officers said he has a history of offending that stretches back five years, with a number of crimes committed in the city centre. He had previously been dealt with by way of restorative justice and a youth caution.
He was given a two-year CBO and also sentenced to a 12-month referral order.
Dubbed the ‘zombie drug,’ Spice is a highly addictive synthetic cannabis which can cause users to fall into a catatonic state. An M.E.N. report earlier this year disclosed shocking images of ‘zombie’ users in a comatose state around Manchester city centre.