Newbiggin teen snatched baby in legal high death fear
A teenage boy who had smoked a legal high snatched a baby from its pram because he feared he would die.
The 14-month child suffered minor injuries during the incident in Newbiggin, Northumberland.
Magistrates heard that the 16-year-old had become paranoid after taking a substance known as Salvia.
He admitted one charge of common assault and was ordered to complete a nine-month referral order with the youth offending team.
South East Northumberland Magistrates Court was told that the mother of the child saw the youth slumped over a bollard earlier in July.
'Pulling with force'
When she asked if he needed any help he attempted to grab her, and then turned his attention to the pushchair.
Mr James Long, prosecuting, said: "He grabbed the baby by both arms and was pulling it with a lot of force.
"The mother started to shout for help and a number of people started to assist.
"They got the male off the baby and took him to the ground, but he managed to get back up and immediately lunged for the buggy again."
The buggy tipped over, leaving the baby face down, and he jumped onto it, trying to reach down and grab the baby from under it.
It took about four people to pull him off.
'Learned his lesson'
Graham Crouth, defending, said: "Having taken this with his friend, within a short space of time he had lost all semblance of reality.
"The pavement was strange and moving around, he was sick and had extreme feelings of paranoia. He thought he was going to die.
"It felt as if he was living in a video game. He remembers thinking that he wouldn't die if he could hold the baby."
The court was told that he felt "real remorse for his actions" and had "learned his lesson".
"I would not expect him to go near drugs either legal or not legal ever again in his life," Mr Crouth said.
The teenager was also ordered to pay £150 compensation and a £10 victim surcharge.