Girl, 12, sent to secure unit

The girl broke into the Kwik Save in Bala

A 12-year-old girl who ran amok in a Gwynedd town has been sent to a secure unit for a year.

The girl, who cannot be named for legal reasons, had been staying at a residential unit in the area which specialises with unruly children in the care of social services.

She appeared before a youth court in Dolgellau on Monday afternoon to face 20 offences, including burglary, affray and criminal damage - mostly in the Bala area of Gwynedd.

Local councillors have called for a tightening up of procedures at the residential home after hearing that there was not a policy of restraint.

The case was heard in Dolgellau

If she left the unit, two members of staff would follow her and monitor her activities.

But on one occasion, a particularly cold night, she persuaded them to return to get some warm clothing - and then broke into the local Kwik Save supermarket.

The youth court also heard that the girl had assaulted police officers who tried to arrest her, thrown stones at them and tried to bite them.

She also broke a laptop computer at Dolgellau police station.

Social services staff said the girl - who is originally from the Bristol area - had a mental age of eight, but she had caring parents who were concerned about her welfare.

She was no longer at the residential home.

Officials felt she should be returned to the unit, but magistrates said that although they sympathised with those views, they felt a secure unit would be appropriate because of fears that the girl would re-offend.