'Cowardly and wicked' teenage attacker is locked up
A TEENAGER who beat and kicked a man in a gang robbery has been locked up for four years for his "wicked" and "cowardly" attack.
John Ward, aged 18, had denied being one of three men who set upon stranger Martin Harper in a dark alley – leaving him fearing for his life.
But a jury took only 40 minutes to find him guilty of robbery after a trial lasting a little over a day at Plymouth Crown Court.
Recorder Ben Compton said: "This was absolutely gratuitous violence, a really wicked attack with numbers and at night. It was cowardly."
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The judge said Mr Harper had undergone two operations on a broken nose and was now afraid to go out at night.
He said Ward, of Embankment Road, had "played the system" and told a "pack of lies".
Recorder Compton said: "He has shown no remorse nor recognition for what he has done. The violence was well over the top for what was needed for the robbery."
The victim had told the court he was chased, punched and kicked by three men who confronted him as he left a friend's house in Cromwell Road, St Judes, just before 10pm on February 24.
Mr Harper, aged 34, said he was struck to the head and torso at least 15 times while he curled up in the ground to protect himself.
He told the jury: "I was frightened for my life."
The court heard his coat and phone had been snatched from him during the attack.
Ward was chased and caught by a passing police officer but the other two robbers escaped and remain at large.
A spot of blood which matched Mr Harper's DNA was found on Ward's shoe.
Ali Rafati, for Ward, said he came to Plymouth from his native Liverpool only last year to look for work but "fell in with the wrong crowd".
He added: "They were far more sophisticated and criminally-minded than he was. They took him under their wing."
Mr Rafati said Ward had been very depressed since being remanded in custody at Exeter Prison but had tried to improve his education. Ward, who has no previous convictions, was given four years detention in a Young Offender Institution for robbery.
He was given a concurrent sentence of two years detention after admitting an alternative charge of actual bodily harm against Mr Harper.
Comments
by choclabx2
Thursday, October 11 2012, 10:57PM
“Listen up boys and girls,ALWAYS use contraception or you too could produce a waster like this.”
by belly1234
Thursday, October 11 2012, 8:54AM
“Yes this guy was so innocent it never crossed his mind to tell who his accomplices were. By refusing to id them we only have his word for it that they were more criminall minded than him and he shows no remore for his actions. Lies, lies, lies. Maximum sentence for robbery is life so you must ask why he got only 4 years for lying, gratuitious violence, no remorse etc. More scouse scum down here breeding with our low-life Jeremy Kyle generation girls.”
by markishomer
Wednesday, October 10 2012, 3:13PM
“Come on Ali Rafati, for Ward. Whilst appreicating you've got a job to do but coming up with "Harper said he came to Plymouth from his native Liverpool only last year to look for work but fell in with the wrong crowd". He is the wrong crowd isnt he Ali. The wrong crowd that are flooding our streets with narcotics and the resultant enforcers that come with them. And to think the tax payer foots the bill for legals to ensure that scum like this have fair representation when they get caught........ funny old world isnt it ?”
by CharlieDodd
Wednesday, October 10 2012, 2:25PM
“..'aged 18, has been locked up for four years for his "wicked" and "cowardly" attack'..
Look on the bright side mate, you should be out in time for your 21st birthday, you'll be a man then and can stop acting like a teeny nutter..;)”
by josdave
Wednesday, October 10 2012, 1:46PM
“Four years out in two is no great punishment for this thug when you consider the seriousness of the attack. He should be in an adult prison with some real hard cases and see how he likes that. Three on one what brave lads they are.”
by Devonrobbie
Wednesday, October 10 2012, 10:38AM
“He should have been given a couple of extra years for refusing to name his accomplices.”
by circles1
Wednesday, October 10 2012, 10:29AM
“A face that only a mutant could love”
by renegade20122
Wednesday, October 10 2012, 9:53AM
“scum should have been a lot longer and should been made to give the guy compo when he gets out
hes nothing but scum ,,,,,,,
send him to a mans prison he be their bum boy”
by nothalf
Wednesday, October 10 2012, 9:50AM
“came from Liverpool seeking work, what as exactly- courier,dealer,thief ?”
by JMonners
Wednesday, October 10 2012, 8:28AM
“He is 18 why a young offenders institution?”