Aberdeen boy aged 7 ‘carries a knife’
Seven-year-old boy ‘drinks and smokes’
Published:
SHOCKED residents today hit out after reports of a tiny tearaway who drinks, smokes and carries knives.
The seven-year-old is alleged to have terrorised people in an Aberdeen community.
One Torry councillor said the youngster was “out of control” and that a number of complaints had been made about the boy.
However, the child cannot be prosecuted because he is under eight years old – Scotland’s age of criminal responsibility.
It was understood council officials, police and social workers were to hold an emergency meeting about the youngster this week.
Conservative councillor Alan Donnelly said Torry residents had first contacted him a few months ago.
It was reported the boy had been seen carrying various types of knife in the street and he had attacked a nine-year-old girl with a spade.
Neighbours said he drinks beer, smokes cigarettes and can often be seen wandering the streets unsupervised until midnight.
Mr Donnelly said: “He’s out of control.”
The councillor said the boy was going around with knives, drinking and swearing.
He said: “I can imagine it from teenagers but at seven years old it’s just not on. Something has to be done.”
Some residents said the schoolboy was part of a gang of older youths that includes his 10-year-old brother.
They are said to encourage his bad behaviour for their own amusement.
Torry residents were today stunned at the reports.
One said: “It is just shocking a child that age has been behaving like that and getting away with it. His parents should be blamed for the way he’s been acting.”
Another Torry resident said: “A kid that age should be out playing football not going around with a knife.”
And a social worker said: “Families in deprived areas sometimes have a lot of trouble in the home and it causes the youngsters to behave in such a shocking way.”
A city council spokesman said he was unable to comment on individual cases.
And a spokesman for Grampian Police said he could not comment on individual cases.
Comment, Page 6
Readers' Comments
It is very unfair to used "deprived area" as an excuse, manners and behaviour costs nothing. As a former torry resident i can assure all it is not typical Torry children behaviour. Children from ANY area can be raised wrong, it is parent that should be targeted.
alanna anderson
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Why does the area he live in have to do with the way he behaves, its down to his parents or his parent to ensure he doesn't behave in this manner. To blame an area is a cop out which is par for the course with social workers. This boy needs a kick up the jacksie no two ways about it followed by a swift kick in the rear to his parents. Deprived areas exist because many able bodied residents dont want to work, living on handouts is far easier. Good neighbours are saddled with the stigma because of the inadequacy of the benefits brigade.
Abbie Mann
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Hi Steven, ever watch a programme called Road Wars, it gives a very good insight on police work and how many of the above they come across.I wouldn't be a cop for any amount of money. I was stunned at how many young people from a very early age upwards are roaming the streets with no conscience or morality. How have we allowed it to get so bad, why are there so many inadequate ill-equipped parents.What happened to granmas and grandas giving advice and being listened to. Parents have to be held accountable for these wee toerags, withhold benefit and it would be oh no the kids will suffer, evict them and the kids will suffer, these parent/s know this and sit back and cash another benefit cheque.
Abbie Mann
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