A TEENAGER who punched a girl in the face in the centre of Swindon has been given a six-month referral order.

The 14-year-old girl, who cannot be named for legal reasons, pleaded guilty to the charge at Swindon Magistrates’ Youth Court today.

The court heard how the defendant had fallen out with another girl when the attack happened on August 30 near the Orbital Shopping Centre.

The victim was making her way home from the shopping centre when a group, including the defendant, saw her and she was dragged over by one of the group.

Other members of the group then encouraged the defendant to punch the girl, who fell to the floor and suffered pain and bruising to the ridge of her nose.

Returning the verdict, chairman of the bench Mary Holland said: “You have been given a referral order for six months because you punched the girl in the face with a clenched fist which thankfully hasn’t caused serious injury but could have done.”

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Trevor Cannon, 35, of White Beam Court, was ordered to pay a fine of £740 by Swindon magistrates today.

Cannon pleaded guilty to two counts of not paying fines totalling £860.

The court heard the first fine of £335 imposed on September 19, 2014, was for not paying a TV licence while the second fine of £525 was imposed on December 7, 2015, for an unrelated incident.

Returning a verdict, chairman of the bench Mary Holland said: “It’s your responsibility to pay this, just saying they haven’t got back to you is not good enough.

“This amount must be paid and at the end of the day it’s your responsibility.”

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Iulian Teacoe, 40, of Lansdown Road, was ordered to pay £355 in fines after pleading guilty to a charge of theft at Swindon Magistrates’ Court today.

Teacoe, who spoke through a Romanian translator at the hearing, was seen stealing a £49 suitcase by security staff at TK Maxx in Great Western Way at 3pm on November 19, 2015.

Prosecuting, Nick Barr said: “When he was arrested the defendant came up with a cock and bull story about how he couldn’t return the suitcase as someone had put scaffolding in the way of the building.”