Boy, 11, responsible for fifth of crime in Somerset town tells court he wants to be a bank manager because he's 'good at maths'

The boy swore in a coffee shop, before exposing himself to an 11-year-old girl

The picturesque town centre (Rex images)

A judge took pity on an 11-year-old boy who was responsible for half of the crime in a sleepy Somerset town, after he told a court of his ambition to become a bank manager.

The child, who cannot be named for legal reasons, appeared in court after he swore at customers in a Costa Coffee branch in Shepton Mallet.

He caused customers, the majority of whom were mothers with the children and the eldery, “alarm and distress”, during the incident at around 3:30pm on 11 November said prosecutor, Judith Morris.

After running out, he stood outside a Carphone Warehouse, where he called the attention of an 11-year-girl and exposed his genitals to her. She later told her mother about the incident at home.

Police also previously gave him a conditional caution for two counts of violence against a person, arson, two counts of criminal damage, theft, and handling stolen goods, Western Daily Press reported.

He has now received a three month referral order for a further two crimes at the Youth Court.

As he carried out all of the offences in just a few days last November, there was a sudden spike in recorded crime in the town.

In November, 50 crimes were reported – sharp rise from on the 40 reported the previous year as a whole.

Police believe the boy is responsible for up to ten of those crimes, after he came to their attention at the end of June - meaning he carried out a fifth of the town's crimes.

The boy pleaded guilty to the offences he committed on 11 November.

Despite the boy’s shaky start, he told the judge at Yeovil Magistrates Court that he hopes to become a bank manager because he’s “good at maths.”

Ray Peters, who was defending the child, said that over the short period of time he had known the 11-year-old, he struck him as a “nice, well behaved and intelligent boy.”

He added that his mother said her son has issues, particularly with anger.

The child also recently made first contact with his biological father who left him when his mother was three months pregnant, and said he did not want to contact his son – which had left him “scarred.”

The boy had attended a special boarding school, but had to return to mainstream education “because of the powers that be”, and his behaviour deteriorated.

Peters added that he had started associating with the wrong crowd, and wanted to impress them.

Sentencing, Chair David Phillips said: “I'm sure now it has all taken place you can appreciate how frightened people were. You realise that is wrong.

"We have heard consistently you are an intelligent boy. In terms of age, you are. You will now be given and opportunity to put this behind you."