A 14-year-old boy has become the youngest person to be sentenced for taking part in riots in the West Midlands – but he walked free from court with his identity protected after a magistrate refused to allow him to be named by the media.

The teenager looted two pairs of Armani shorts from Zhapp designer clothing in Queen Street, Wolverhampton, as mobs ransacked city stores on August 9.

He also went to Sunitek.com in Broad Street but left empty-handed because there was “nothing left to steal”. He headed into the city after rumours on Facebook about disorder.

The boy was given a nine month referral order but was told by Wolverhampton Youth Court bench chairman Mr Roy Goodhead he would have been locked up had he been older.

Mr Goodhead refused an Express & Star request to identify the youth, from Wolverhampton, made on the grounds that it was in the public interest. It came despite guidance that minors convicted of rioting should be named. Home Secretary Theresa May has asked for the tough stance.

Mr Goodhead’s legal adviser said reporting restrictions could only be lifted to avoid injustice to the defendant or to find a defendant at large.

But official guidance by Igor Judge, the senior presiding judge for England and Wales, states a minor can also be identified if it is in the public interest.

Prime Minister David Cameron has also called for tough action against rioters who ran amok throughout Wolverhampton, West Bromwich and Birmingham, costing police £12 million.