By GB News (World News) | Created at 2025-03-24 13:51:05 | Updated at 2025-04-04 23:04:07
1 week ago
Police are searching the country for Britain's most wanted 12-year-old who failed to appear in court last week amid charges related to driving a BMW and towing a stolen caravan.
The youngster, from the travelling community, was due before magistrates last week, but with no permanent address, the court issued an arrest warrant for the young fugitive.
The incident occurred over a year ago when the boy, then aged 11, was apprehended driving a BMW X5 with allegedly cloned number plates.
Police caught the youngster after he had towed a caravan for 40 miles along the A1M in North Yorkshire, which has now prompted a search.
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The child could barely see over the steering wheel when officers finally intercepted him on the London-bound M1 at Garforth outside Leeds.
The boy was due to appear before Harrogate Magistrates' Court on Friday, 14 March, but failed to arrive.
A court spokesperson said: "A juvenile was due to appear before Harrogate magistrates charged with theft of a motor vehicle of value unknown, driving it dangerously and handling stolen goods, namely a caravan.
"The defendant has not attended and an arrest warrant has been issued," the Daily Mail reported.
Police officers face significant challenges in executing the arrest warrant without a permanent address to visit.
It has been reported that the family moves around frequently, making it difficult for the case to move to court.
Residents in the market town of Thirsk have long awaited the court trial after the caravan was stolen from a holiday site last year.
One local said: "The young lad is from the travelling community so it's taken quite a while to get the case to court, because he and his family move around so are difficult to contact."
A BMW X5 was found to be stolen during the incident
BMW
After the theft, Sergeant Paul Cording expressed his astonishment at finding such a young driver. Speaking at the time, he said: "Even after over 23 years service, you come across things that you struggle to comprehend.
"Like yesterday when some great fast track work from the team identified a recently stolen caravan being towed by a vehicle on false plates, but then to find the driver was only 11 years old!"
