17-year-old told 'his days of thumbing his nose at the court will soon be over'

A 17-year-old youth has been told that 'his days of thumbing his nose at the court will soon be over' as he is due to turn 18 next month. 

The youth appeared at Derry Magistrate's Court charged with breaching his bail on November 26. 

A police officer told the court that the youth had breached his curfew and couldn't be located for a number of hours. 

District Judge Barney McElholm was told that the youth would be turning 18 in December. 

He said that he was obliged by what he described as 'ludicrous' legislation to grant the youth bail. 

But he warned him 'from there on in he will be 18 and the rules will change'.

The youth will appear again on December 3.