'Huge concern' over delinquent yobs

Callum Daniels, from Manor, was detained for at least five years after admitting robbery, rape, sexual assault, escape and burglary.

The 15-year-old - whose own mum admits is out of control - gained the nickname 'Houdini', after repeatedly fleeing from custody.

Meanwhile, the city's top judge, Honorary Recorder of Sheffield Judge Alan Goldsack QC condemned the upbringing of Lewis Barlow, 14, and Leon Gray, 15, who kicked partially-sighted dad-of-five Colin Greenwood to death at Middlewood tram stop "for a bit of fun".

Both murderers were detained for a minimum of 12-and-a-half years.

Coun Wilson said: "Young people operating without boundaries is a huge concern. It's difficult to deal with - the council and no other institution can intervene 24 hours-a-day."

She said the key is tackling dysfunctional families - which frequently provide the background of young offenders.

Daniels, Barlow and Gray all had poor school attendance and Gray was expelled. Daniels was one of six children and his mum was a heroin addict.

Barlow was from a family of eight and Judge Goldsack said "neglect, poor supervision, poor school attendance and low level anti social behaviour" were all part of his background. He had started committing petty crimes from a young age.

Barlow told police he murdered Greenwood because he "would otherwise have faced ridicule, and that kicking and stamping on people was not unusual behaviour" on his estate.

He said Barlow and Gray, both of Winn Gardens, were typical of a growing problem - youths who are "out of control, amoral and prepared to use gratuitous and mindless violence on vulnerable people".

Coun Wilson said: "We establish the best mechanisms we can, through schools, police, youth offending team and drug intervention programmes, to get at the root of this problem, which is appallingly bad parenting.

"It is not just the parents of these young people but their parents, too - who were brought up believing there was no such thing as society and no boundaries."

Coun Wilson said intervention with problem families in Sheffield starts as early as birth, where midwives and health visitors help to identify youngsters at risk.

Coun Wilson said there are "pockets of lawlessness" in Sheffield but that the areas are "turning a corner" because residents are willing to give evidence about criminals - which is not the case in some other cities - and there is strong community spirit.

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