A schoolboy caught on camera vandalising a Mobike was ordered to learn how to fix it by police - after his mum marched him to the station.

When Ben - not his real name - and four friends decided to steal and trash a bike from Manchester’s new rental scheme last month, they didn’t realise they were being filmed by a neighbour. Nor did they think that footage would end up on the M.E.N website.

So it came as a great shock when he returned from school to his mortified mum, who had opened the paper to see her son trying to vandalise a bike by Ancoats canal.

Ben was ordered by police to carry out restorative justice - where offenders act to help their victims and the community.

And on Friday, that justice was served when Mobike bosses and staff showed him how to fix bikes just like the one he tried to destroy.

Ben’s mum, 36, who juggles two jobs, told the M.E.N: “As soon as I opened the paper I recognised him and burst out crying, I was so disappointed.

“I put him to bed and didn’t speak to him. He’d had detentions but never anything like this.

“I don’t think he believed I’d take him to the police. But I had to. It was a hard decision but actions have to have consequences.”

The next day, she collected her son from school and took him straight to the police station, where he was interviewed.

She added: “Today’s been really good, I’m so glad I went to the police. It could have been so much worse - a caution would have stayed on his record.

“I think it’s bad none of the other mums have come forward - if they recognised their child they shouldn’t just wait for the police, if their children have done wrong they need to be punished.”

Spanner in hand and quietly leaning over a Mobike, Ben, who hopes to be an accountant when he’s older, told the M.E.N: “We stole the Mobike and damaged it.

“We went to the canal because it was nearest. We ran off when someone told us off. I don’t know why I did it - I was just following.”

Admitting he was angry when his mum told him she was taking him to the police station, he says he’s since changed his mind.

He added: “Before I came I was nervous. But I’ve learnt a lot today, I know how to fix bikes now. My bike at home is broken and maybe I can fix that.

“Now I think my mum did the right thing.

“Other kids’ mums don’t really care but you can see my mum does care and didn’t want me to go out and get in more trouble.

“I’ve learnt you should never follow people as they aren’t the ones getting in trouble - it’s you.

“I’ll never do anything like that again. I’d tell other people not to do what I did - when Mobike take their bikes away it’ll be you moaning.”

The bike damaged by Ben is among 56 machines either abandoned or vandalised which have been reported to police since the scheme was launched on June 29.

Insp Phil Spurgeon, City of Manchester division, says abuse is at the hands of a ‘small minority’ and they are working with Mobike to reduce criminal and antisocial use.

He said they would continue to take positive action against those caught damaging or keeping Mobikes - including prosecution and restorative justice where appropriate.

He added: “Hopefully the individual involved in today’s restorative justice repatriation has learnt a valuable lesson, not only facing up to the consequences of his actions but also understanding why the Mobike scheme is for the benefit of all those who use the city centre and not just the play thing of a misguided few.”

Beverley Hughes, deputy mayor for Policing and Crime, added: “I want to thank this mother for taking the courageous step of coming forward to GMP. It can’t have been an easy decision to make, but through her actions this young man – and others – will hopefully think twice before doing anything like this again.”

She said young people needed to be held to account for wrongdoings but also be given the opportunity to make amends for harm caused.

Steve Pyer, UK General Manager at Mobike said vandalism hurt the communities and neighbourhoods they are part of.

They are working closely with GMP to keep vandalism to a minimum and, where possible, incidents are turned into ‘learning experiences’ for those involved, he said.

He said reports of vandalism were declining, adding: “We’re hoping that initiatives like this will help put a stop to them altogether.”