A group of young thugs who viciously beat up a 17-year-old in a turf war have been spared jail, after their lawyers reportedly argued they would not cope in prison.
Oxfordshire locals Kieran Clifton, 19, Se Smith, 18, Daniel Clifford, 22, and Joshua Campbell, 19, attacked the teenager in March last year, according to The Sun.
The group dragged the 17-year-old, who has not been named, out of his car, while screaming at him, "you're going to be unrecognisable after this", and "do you want me to stab you?"
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The victim was not known to the group, but they reportedly recognised him as one of the "Thame lot" and had been told that he would be arriving on their 'turf'.
Clifton reportedly led the attack, running across to the victim's car and yelling, "Get out of the f***cking car! I am going to smash your head in!"
The group appeared at Oxford Crown Court on Tuesday, reportedly arriving in smart shirts.
UK lawyer Jane Brady defended 19-year-old Clifton and told the court her client was led to believe the victim had caused his recent break up with his first "proper" girlfriend.
Brady told the court her client was "absolutely terrified" of going inside.
"His mother would have concerns about her son's ability to cope in such an environment," Brady said.
Clifton pleaded guilty to a charge of causing actual bodily harm
According to The Metro, Sean Smith, defending 18-year-old Clifford, praised his client for having abstained from cocaine two weeks prior the sentencing. Smith told the judge that Clifford had a substance abuse problem, and had previously spent £400 ($NZD 787) a week on cocaine and cannabis.
The defence team for 19-year-old Campbell, who has already been convicted for assaulting two police officers later in the same night, told the court their client "feels rehabilitated already".
Kellie Enever, representing 18-year-old Smith, shared with the court that Smith "absolutely regrets" his decisions.
"This is a young man who, without a shadow of a doubt, looking back on that night, absolutely regrets the decisions that were taken and what unfolded," she said.
Judge Nigel Daly told the group that they "better mend their ways".
"You better mend your ways. It has been 18 months since this has happened. It would appear that each of you stands to have a good chance at rehabilitation. This has been your last chance," he said.
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The court heard the group drank Amaretto at a local pub before the March 2018 attack.
"You accepted being significantly involved in violence, you played a leading role in what went on. You have not accepted that you have any issues with drinking. Drink, in my view, played a significant part," the judge told the young men.
"Drinking Coca Cola and Amaretto? I'm surprised you were not sick!" he said.
The Metro reports that Clifton, Campbell and Clifford were given 12-month prison terms, suspended for a year.
Smith was jailed for eight months, suspended for a year. The group were all given community service and ordered to pay a total of £3,000 ($NZD 5908) in court costs and compensation.
Judge Daly left the group with a warning.
"Appear before me again and you know exactly where you're going," he said.
Newshub.
