Court told social workers struggle to keep children safe from teen drug user

14-year-old appears in court

A social worker's told a court staff at a care unit can't keep children safe from a teenage boy who uses drugs and is awaiting sentencing for carrying a knife.

The 14-year-old, who can't be named for legal reasons, appeared before High Bailiff Jayne Hughes at Douglas Courthouse.

He pleaded guilty to one count of breaching his bail by failing to obey the rules of a non-secure unit at White Hoe in Douglas.

Prosecution advocate Roger Kane said the boy broke a rule about staying in contact with staff on 12 May.

The court heard the boy went out at 2pm and was out of contact until he returned at 6.30 that evening.

The social worker, who requested the boy be remanded to a secure facility, told the hearing he often used cannabis and took other children from the unit with him.

Mrs Hughes said she couldn't grant the request because there was no evidence of any crime before the court except for the bail breach.

She remanded him back to the non-secure unit until his sentencing date.