BURY police are hunting a Fagin's gang of mini-muggers led by a four-foot tall ringleader.

The gang, who took orders from a nine-year-old "boss", mugged the same teenager twice in broad daylight outside Castle Leisure Centre.

Now police are warning people to be on the lookout for the baby-faced bandits.

"They may be young, but they know the difference between right and wrong," said a CID spokesman.

The young muggers stole just 20p in their first attack on Sunday then waited outside the Castle Leisure Centre for the same teenage boy. They threatened him again and ran off with £5.80.

Said Det. Chief Insp Tony Simister of Bury CID: "If individuals as young as this are resorting to demanding money from people in the street then it must sound serious alarm bells.

"At this age they are legally not supposed to realise the serious consequences of their actions. However, I do not believe that any individual does not know the difference between right and wrong. This sort of thing is a sad reflection of where today's society has taken us."

The muggers' ringleader is said to be aged nine, 4ft 2 inches tall, of slim build with short dark hair, a blue and white checked shirt and blue jeans. On his right index finger he wore a distinctive gold ring with a black, oval-shaped stone inset with a gold stripe over one corner. The second gang member was aged about twelve, with short dark hair and wearing an Adidas sports top. The third was also nine, with short blonde hair and wearing a dark T-shirt. The fourth was not described.

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