A 12-year-old boy has been handed a 12-month referral order for taking part in riots in Manchester.

The boy, who cannot be identified because of his age, appeared at Manchester Magistrates’ Court after his sentencing was postponed because his mother went on holiday to Ibiza.

His mother was also ordered to pay £1,200 compensation and will be subject to a 12-month parental order.

District judge Joanne Hirst told the youngster it was “the worst type of feral behaviour” and if he was an adult he could have been sent to prison for between four and five years.

The boy admitted two separate episodes of disorder in Manchester on 31 July and throwing a missile at a police van in the city centre on 3 August.