Two 15-year-old thugs avoid jail for 'wild animal' attack on homeless man
Two teenage thugs have avoided jail after unleashing a sickening attack "like a pack of wild animals" on a homeless man in a car park.
Rough sleeper Mark Webb was punched, kicked, stamped on and smashed over the head with a bottle by a group of five youths in Truro, Cornwall last February.
The frenzied attack was filmed and shared on Snapchat, which led to a police investigation.
One 17-year-old previously pleaded guilty and was sentenced to a youth referral order for attempting to cause grievous bodily harm with intent to do grievous bodily harm.
Another youth was cleared of the same charge at a trial, while a separate 15-year-old was convicted at the joint trial.
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The victim is seen getting kicked repeatedly by the teenagers in the video (Cornwall Live)The fourth defendant, 15, known as Defendant 1, was convicted at the trial, and the fifth defendant, also 15, known as Defendant 2, pleaded guilty.
Both 15-year-old boys, who cannot be named due to their age, appeared at Cornwall Youth Court today to be sentenced for attempting to cause grievous bodily harm.
Defendant 1 and Defendant 2 were 14 at the time of the attack, CornwallLive reports.
At the sentencing hearing, District Judge Joanna Matson said: “On February 12 of last year you both accept being involved in an assault on Mark Webb. Mr Webb was a homeless man and was set upon by a group of youths in a public car park.”
Many online said they were sickened by the video (Cornwall Live)Judge Matson said that Defendant 2 smashed a bottle over Mr Webb’s head and that Defendant 1 kicked him and stamped upon him as part of the attack.
Defendant 2 has no previous convictions, whereas Defendant 1 does for less serious offences.
Mr Webb refused to cooperate with police leaving them to rely on the social media footage for the case.
During her sentencing remarks, Judge Matson said: “This is an incredibly serious matter and was a vicious attack on a homeless man. It involved kicking to the head with significant force. He could have been killed.
The horrifying footage shows one thug hitting the victim over the head with a bottle (Cornwall Live)“Defendant 2 you smashed a bottle over his head and Defendant 1 you kicked and stamped on him. I see lots of horrible things but this to me was sickening. You were like a pack of wild animals attacking a defenceless man.
“Defendant 2 you had been drinking alcohol and said you joined in because you were worried what others in the group would think. You have been very mature in your reflection of this incident and have made huge changes to your life.
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“I note you wish to apologise to Mr Webb and have suggested you carry out work in the homeless community. You have done voluntary work with your neighbour, have changed your friends and are helpful around the house. You have stopped drinking alcohol and have not offended since.”
This is the horrifying moment a homeless man was beaten senseless in a car park (Cornwall Live)Moving onto Defendant 1, Judge Matson said: “You clearly kicked and stamped on Mark Webb. I note this has had a significant impact on your mental health. There have been feelings of shame and you are sorry for the impact this has had on Mr Webb.
“You have also removed yourself from your friends and your mum says you’re a completely different person. You have been out of trouble for a long period and have started employment.”
Judge Matson concluded by saying that both teenagers should be disgusted. Defendant 2 was given a 12-month youth referral order and ordered to pay costs of £100 and a £22 victim surcharge.
Defendant 1 was given an 18-month youth rehabilitation order and must complete a rehabilitation activity requirement and pay associated costs. Defendant 1 was not made subject of a curfew as he had been under one previously.
Judge Matson reminded the teenagers they were lucky to avoid custody and that their parents had been doing everything they could to support them.
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