Teens taunted vulnerable man as they beat him in sickening attack at Devon bus station
Three teenagers punched and kicked a vulnerable man while their friends watched on and filmed in Kingsbridge. The victim, who had mobility issues and used a walking aide, was approached by the teenagers on March 7 last year.
The group were congregating and drinking beer at Kingsbridge bus station. Aidan Gustar, aged 18 of Mashford Avenue, Dartmouth, began the attack by kicking the victim in the head as he sat at the bus stop.
Local CCTV and mobile phone footage captured the group laughing in the background and encouraging further violence. As the victim bent down to get his phone, Gustar then hit him again and smashed him with a glass bottle.
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Josh Perret, aged 19 of Saffron Park, Kingsbridge, then ran over and joined in the brutal attack. The pair continued to punch the victim, hammering a total of 15 blows.
Mobile phone footage then shows Jay Peck, aged 18 of Pendeen Park, Chillington, throw a can of beer at the victim. He was followed by the teens as he tried to flee the scene.
He suffered several injuries including facial abrasions, possible concussion, and a fracture to his left rib. The youths were identified and arrested after mobile phone footage of the attack had been circulated on social media.
Gustar, Perret and Peck all pleaded guilty to assault occasioning actual bodily harm at Plymouth Crown Court on Thursday, September 12. They each received an 18-month suspended sentence each and were ordered to pay £330 each in compensation to the victim.
Gustar was also ordered to carry out 130 hours unpaid work. Meanwhile, Parrett was ordered to carry out 100 hours of unpaid work, and Peck was ordered to carry out 150 hours of unpaid work.
Detective Constable William Young said: “This was a sustained and cruel attack on a victim who suffered from some vulnerabilities. The teenagers involved punched, kicked, and threw a bottle towards the victim who did not retaliate in any way whatsoever.
“Mobile phone footage recorded of the incidents, showed the offenders and their group of friends laughing and taunting the victim during the incident which took place in broad daylight, while other members of the public and children were nearby.
“The sentences passed reflect the age of the perpetrators and their capacity for rehabilitation, however, the community unpaid work requirements send out a clear message that violence and antisocial behaviour will not be tolerated by the community of Kingsbridge.
“We would like to extend our thanks to a member of the public who stepped forward and provided information which assisted to identify those responsible.”