MAGISTRATES decided to take no further action against a teenager who breached the bail conditions set.

The 14-year-old appeared at Colchester Magistrates’ Court yesterday after being taken into police custody when she was spotted in the town centre by an officer.

The court heard she was found outside Gala Bingo, in Osborne Street, at 6.45pm on Monday.

She admitted breaching the bail restrictions which stop her from entering the town centre unless supervised by a parent or guardian.

But Raphael Pigott, mitigating, argued she was finding it “incredibly difficult” to stay out of the exclusion zone, covering Balkerne Hill, Cowdray Avenue, East Street, East Hill, Priory Street, St Botolph’s and Southway.

He said: “She regularly comes to town and meets friends and getting her bus from town takes her through the exclusion area. Staying at home is difficult.”

A member of the Youth Offending Team added the youngster said the bail conditions, which include a 7pm curfew and non-contact with some of her peers from another matter, were “too stringent”.

She said: “She’s been honest and says she doesn’t feel she can stick with it. It’s not the first time she’s breached the bail conditions.

“I asked her what she would like and that would be a 9pm curfew.”

Remanding the teenager into local authority accommodation was explored, but the court decided it would not prevent her from breaching an order.

Philip Bowerman, chairman of the bench, said: “You know you’re not allowed to come into Colchester town centre so if you do keep coming, I know it’s difficult for you, you will just keep coming back here [court] so try not to.

“I’m not going to take action on this occasion but the conditions for your bail are going to be the same.”

The Colchester girl will next appear at Youth Court in December for allegedly assaulting a library worker and must not contact the victim, or enter the town centre.