A Carlisle youth who delivered multiple punches to a man who was knocked unconscious and left with a bleed on his brain has been sentenced by a crown court judge.
Now aged 17, the youth was 15 on the early evening he was initially attacked by one of three men in the city centre on September 14, 2020. The teen suffered a cut to the nose, a ripped T-shirt and, as he left the scene, warned: “Just wait and see what happens tonight.”
That, Carlisle Crown Court heard today, proved to be a catalyst for more serious violence which flared later that night as the three were sat on the edge of flower beds beside the Citadel arches off English Street.
A group of about 15 to 20 people — some aged in their 30s — approached. Five to eight of these people then launched an attack on the three men.
The youth was seen to run towards and deliver five punches to the face of his earlier attacker, who was knocked out and woke up in hospital.
After the gang members fled, the youth was arrested the following day but for months afterwards denied any presence at the scene. However, police uncovered cell site data which disproved his claim that he hadn’t left an address. He was due to stand trial but instead admitted causing grievous bodily harm.
His victim had sustained bruising and swelling to his face with a CT scan later revealing a small brain bleed. Since the attack he had suffered headaches, short-term memory loss and hadn’t worked.
“I am frustrated by the fact I still can’t remember what happened that night. I would like to know what happened so I can process it,” he said in an impact statement. “My confidence has been affected and I don’t like going out into town on my own.” He added: “I am worried that after the court case there will be further retribution.”
The youth was sentenced by Judge Simon Medland KC, who noted he now had a stable home address, hadn’t been in trouble since and was pursuing an apprenticeship. As a result, the judge imposed a 12-month youth rehabilitation order with supervision and a night time curfew until 18th December. He was also banned from contacting the man for two years.
“What you did on this occasion was very serious,” said Judge Medland, who had told the teen’s solicitor: “If your client had been older, especially if he was 21 or more, I would have been considering a sentence of immediate imprisonment.”
