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Leeds teen torture horror
A vulnerable 17-year-old was forced from a Leeds children's home and tortured after he was accused of "grassing" two boys to police.
The victim, who has learning difficulties, was repeatedly kicked and punched; had boiling water poured over him; had his arm burned with hair straighteners; and had his testicles trodden on.
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One youth did a "flying kick" against the victim's head when he tried to escape, prosecutor Simon Batiste told Leeds Crown Court.
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Judge Kerry Macgill said any "right thinking member of society" would say the defendants – two youths and their girlfriends, all aged 17 or 18 – should be sent to prison for a long time.
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But he said his hands were tied by restrictions imposed by Parliament.
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"I am left with ridiculously short sentences at my disposal," he went on. "We are beset with these statutory guidelines which ensure as far as possible that young people do not end up in custody."
The judge told them that reaching 18 was a significant step because it meant that in future some legal restrictions would not apply and the defendants could be jailed for a long time for future offences.
"You cowardly individuals tried to blame one another for these terrible assaults on this man," he told them. "You carried out a despicable, nasty, horrible assault."
The four, who admitted assault occasioning actual bodily harm, had already been in custody for periods of between 98 and 176 days so the judge imposed non-custodial sentences.
The two girls were given community rehabilitation orders of 12 months and 18 months respectively; and one boy of 17 was given an 18 months supervision order and will have to wear a tag for some of that time.
Judge MacGill adjourned sentence on the 18-year-old man for whom a prison sentence had been recommended. His sentencing was adjourned for two weeks.
Mr Batiste, prosecuting, said the two assaults occurred on the night of
September 14 last year at the flat of one of the girls in Hyde Park.
The two male defendants and the victim were all residents of a children's home.
The victim was accused of "grassing" on the 17-year-old youth three days earlier. So the defendants locked him in a bedroom and began their attack which lasted up to 20 minutes.
The girls were actively involved and one kicked the victim in the genitals. His head was banged against the wall and all four kicked him.
They took him to the bathroom and poured first cold and then boiling buckets of water over him. The 18-year-old burned his right arm with hair straighteners.
In the second attack the victim's arms were tied behind his back with a scarf.
Again, he was kicked and punched and the older youth got a breadknife
which he held against the victim's neck.
When he tried to escape, the older youth aimed a flying kick at his head.
Eventually, the victim was allowed to go, the defendants went to sleep, and he reported the assaults to police.
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Friday 25 May 2012
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