Phil Towers

Two youths from Oxbridge have been sentenced today by Oxbridge Youth Court after they admitted stealing £800 in cash and valuables from a local elderly woman.

The court heard how the youths – who cannot be identified for legal reasons – knocked at the door of Mrs Batilda Bathurst in Heaton Avenue, Oxbridge, claiming to be desperate to use the toilet.

Miss Sayeeda Tai, the prosecuting solicitor, said: “Mrs Bathurst, although a little apprehensive about this, felt it was easier to let them use the facilities and get them on their way.

“However, when they didn’t come downstairs after a few minutes had passed, she climbed the stairs to find the two rummaging through drawers in her bedroom.”

The court heard how the two youths, aged 15 and 16 years old, ran from the house when confronted, and Mrs Bathurst found a necklace worth £500 and £300 in cash to be missing.

They were later found by police at a local shopping centre, where they were trying to buy video games.

Mrs Juliette Hicks, the solicitor for the 16-year-old, told the court how her client came from a troubled background, and had an unsettled home life.

Mr Arnold McNae, the solicitor representing the 15-year-old, said: “My client is deeply sorry for what was a moment of madness.

“He comes from a good home.”

The presiding magistrate, Mr Simon Pollard, took the two differing backgrounds into consideration when delivering the verdicts, with firmer action being taken against the 16-year-old.

The 16-year-old was given a detention training order for four months, with two months in custody and two months supervised in the community.

Mr Pollard said: “We are sorry to take this step but we feel it might break the cycle of offending that has been taking place.”

The 15-year-old was given a youth rehabilitation order requiring twenty hours of unpaid community work.

Mr Pollard said: “We appreciate this is a first offence and that you have shown true remorse but this was also a mean-spirited crime committed against a vulnerable old lady.”