LONDON – Two 12-year-old boys on Aug 12 admitted to participating in disorder last week, becoming the youngest to confess to taking part in far-right-inspired riots that swept across northern England.

       More than 500 people have been charged with taking part in the riots, which followed a July 19 stabbing in which three girls were killed.

       One of the boys, who cannot be named because of his age, pleaded guilty to two charges of violent disorder at a court in Manchester, north-western England.

       He was accused of throwing a missile at a police van as part of a group that gathered outside a Manchester hotel housing asylum seekers.

       District Judge Joanne Hirst said the boy had been more involved in the violence than any other accused person she had seen “coming through these courts, adult or child”.

       The far-right violence came after misinformation spread about the identity of the alleged perpetrator of the mass stabbing at a Taylor Swift-themed dance class in the seaside town of Southport.

       Another 12-year-old boy admitted to violent disorder in Liverpool Youth Court for his involvement in riots in Southport the day after the knife attack.

       He was accused of throwing an object at the police – an act caught on CCTV – and was granted bail ahead of sentencing on Sept 17.

       The boy who appeared in court in Manchester was accused of taking part in two separate instances of disorder. He was remanded in custody until sentencing on Sept 2.

       A stream of young people have appeared in court accused of involvement in riots as the justice system fast-tracks cases related to the disorder from last week.

       A 16-year-old girl and a 17-year-old boy pleaded guilty to violent disorder at Plymouth Magistrates’ Court in south-west England. AFP