A 16-year-old who attacked a total stranger and was seen with an imitation gun in Hereford has been sentenced to 20 months in a young offenders’ institution.
Christopher Kerton, of no fixed address, appeared at Worcester Crown Court where he admitted actual bodily harm, and possessing an imitation firearm.
He had also been found guilty by trial for his part in a burglary where a man was told to leave his home.
Charles Hamer prosecuting told how a man called Richard Townsend had been the victim of an attack by Kerton and others in the centre of Hereford on July 7 last year.
He said: “Witnesses saw Mr Townsend on the ground but no one saw how he got there. He was told by the group to get up and they started on him. He(Kerton) was seen to kick and punch Mr Townsend and at some stage when he was on the floor he stamped on him.He was also thrown into a car. Mr Townsend believes he blacked out at the scene”.
Judge Andrew Geddes looking at photos of the victim said: “I can see on his forehead the tread mark of someone’s boot”.
Mr Hamer added that Mr Townsend sustained grazes and bruising as a result of the assault.
He added that on March 15 this year there was a burglary in Union Street, Hereford, where Kerton was with a large group of others when they called at a man’s flat.
They intimidated the man and told him to leave. Mr Hamer said: “When he returned later that evening the group were leaving and a substantial amount of property was stolen”.
On March 16 Kerton was seen by a member of the public at Hereford’s Victoria Footbridge with what appeared to be a gun.
Mr Hamer said: “He was with a group of people and he seemed angry and was boasting about a gun he had recently obtained. It was seen sticking out of his belt”. Police were called and found the gun, which was an imitation, in a nearby hedgerow. Kerton was then arrested.
Tom Walkling defending said of his client, who has been held in custody: “He is very young and this has been his first time in custody and it’s been a shocking experience for him.
“He has demonstrated the shock at the consequences of his criminal behaviour”.
He added that Kerton regretted the assault and said he had just been part of the group involved in the burglary.
Judge Geddes said before passing sentence: “You plainly kicked Richard Townsend. This was a wicked and unpleasant attack by a group of you.
“It must have been a terrifying experience for him”.
He added that Kerton already had a long criminal record for one so young.
He said: “It’s a pretty wretched record. I hope you are now learning a lesson”.
