Boy pulled a knife in playground

A 13-year-old boy who brandished a knife in the face of a nine-year-old girl and her friend has been ordered to undertake a three-month action plan.

The boy pulled out the craft knife and demanded that the girl and her friend, 11, explained why they were staring at him, Reading Youth Court heard.

It happened in a playground at Coley Park in Reading, Berks, on 30 March.

He was convicted of carrying an offensive weapon and two charges of harassment using threatening behaviour.

The defence said the teenager had admitted carrying the knife but denied threatening the two younger children.

The magistrates also ordered the youth, who cannot be named for legal reasons, to pay £360 in costs.

They described it as a "very serious offence" due to the age of the children involved.

The youth court was told the action plan included a provision for the boy to attend a knife referral scheme.