THE mother of a 15-year-old boy will have to pick up a £50 bill, because her son has failed to pay compensation. Last July, the schoolboy was ordered to pay compensation to the victim of an assault he carried out. He should have paid £5 a week, but failed

THE mother of a 15-year-old boy will have to pick up a £50 bill, because her son has failed to pay compensation.

Last July, the schoolboy was ordered to pay compensation to the victim of an assault he carried out. He should have paid £5 a week, but failed to pay a penny off the debt.

Appearing at Ely youth court on Thursday, the teenager explained that he had no pocket money, and had been unable to get a paper round or other part-time job.

"This compensation is paying someone to make up for the hurt you did," explained presiding magistrate Sue Thompson. "By law this money has to be paid. Any money you spend on a mobile phone or cigarettes should come to this court, there is no way we are going to wipe it off."

The court decided to summons the boy's mother to court, and make her responsible for the payment.