Stones attack on English visitors

The family were on a caravan holiday in the area.

A family cut short their holiday in Gwynedd after being attacked by a rock-throwing youth, a court has been told.

Dolgellau Youth Court heard the 16-year-old also abused the family from Bolton because they were English.

The youth admitted racially aggravated threatening behaviour at Blaenau Ffestiniog.

He also admitted common assault and disorderly conduct in an incident in Barmouth. He was warned he faced jail. The case was adjourned until 6 October.

The court heard the family missed their trip back to Porthmadog on the Ffestiniog Railway, on 28 August ,because they had accompanied the mother to Ysbyty Gwynedd hospital in Bangor, where she was treated for an arm injury.

'Shocked and upset'

Ian Evans, prosecuting, said the family had cut short their holiday in the area following the attack.

They were shocked and upset by what had happened, he added.

Mr Evans said some of the rocks thrown had landed on passing and parked cars.

The youth was alleged to have shouted racist abuse at the family because they were from England.

The father, a 32-year-old plumber, telephoned the police and then tried to take a photograph of the youth near Blaenau Ffestiniog train station.

'Hoody'

The witness gave the police a description of the youth, and said he could not take a proper photograph of him because he had pulled his hood over his head.

The court heard the youth had a list of previous convictions and had been on supervision since 2005.

In a separate incident outside a nightclub in Barmouth on 31 August the youth hit out at his ex-girlfriend after being refused admission.

He pleaded guilty to racially aggravated threatening behaviour at Blaenau Ffestiniog and common assault and disorderly conduct in Barmouth.

John Parsons, defending, said magistrates probably wanted pre-sentence reports.

"I have told my client the difficulties he finds himself in," said Mr Parsons.

Court chairman Gwilym Evans said the magistrates felt the custody threshold had been passed.

Sentence was adjourned until 6 October for reports to be prepared.

The youth was granted unconditional bail.