Thugs kicked teenager with learning difficulties '70 times'

Connor Latham, aged 20, of Roebuck Road and Damian Cooke, 18, of Magness Crescent, both in Walsall, punched and kicked their 19-year-old victim in what was described as an 'unnecessary attack', Wolverhampton Crown Court was told.

The court heard the pair had been living together at the time when they turned on the teenager who was a guest at the property.

The victim and his girlfriend were acquaintances of the defendants and had spent the afternoon playing cards and relaxing together before the attack

The defendants left their victim with bruising to the chest, cuts to the lip, pains in his leg, chest and arm as well as a severe headache after the attack on January 5, prosecutor Mr Alex Warren said.

In interview, the victim told police he was kicked between 60 and 70 times, Mr Warren said.

The victim reported the incident after going to hospital 12 days later, where he was given painkillers for his chest pains..

The court heard that while being interviewed by a probation officer, Cook claimed to have danced on the victim 'like an Irishman'.

Defending, Miss Sally Cairns said that 'something just went wrong' on the day.

The pair each admitted one count of assault occasioning actual bodily harm.

Sentencing them to nine months in a youth detention centre, Recorder Nigel Baker QC said: "This was an unnecessary attack on a vulnerable victim suffering from learning difficulties and there can be no justification.

"You punched and kicked him when he was on the ground, using your feet as a weapon and paid no attention to where they were heading.

"This attack on a young man who had no business being treated in that way is an act of bullying.

"It is quite clear that this is something that has stayed with the victim.

"In the aftermath of the attack, his confidence and ability to conduct himself has been negatively affected."