Despite appearing to have special educational needs, he is told that his persistent offending and the attempted burglary is so serious that only a custodial sentence will do. Yet the accused is unable to communicate when questioned. He lacks any family structure, and no relative has come to court to support him. He looks gaunt and malnourished. When asked if Daniel's inability to speak was due to nerves, the youth offending team (YOT) worker replies: "No, he's always like that."
This young man appeared to be mentally unfit to stand trial. Yet at no point did anyone - the magistrate, lawyers or YOT worker - step in to suggest he should be treated for his mental health problems. Instead, he has joined the growing legions of troubled young people slung into custody to be more or less condemned to a life of crime and punishment.
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