A 12-year-old boy cannot be sentenced for his role in August’s rioting because his mother has flown to Ibiza for a holiday.

The child, who cannot be named for legal reasons, has pleaded guilty to two counts of violent disorder during a protest held in the wake of the Southport attack. He faces a potential custodial sentence.

He was due to be sentenced at Manchester magistrates’ court on Monday morning, however, District Judge Joanne Hirst said she was “frankly astonished” to be told that the boy was not accompanied in the dock by his mother.

The judge was told that she had instead flown abroad to the Spanish island on Sunday for a five-day break. The court was told she is expected back in the country on Thursday.

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She thanked the boy’s uncle for accompanying his nephew to court in his mother’s absence, but added: “One day before the hearing we find out the mum has gone on holiday and is not with her son who played a greater part in the recent civil disorder than any adult or child I’ve seen coming through these courts.

“I’m frankly astonished.

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The youngster had earlier admitted being part of a mob that attacked a bus outside a hotel housing asylum seekers in Manchester on 31 July.

Days later on 3 August, in Manchester city centre, he was part of a group filmed kicking the windows of a vape shop and throwing a missile at a police van.