Attack was in revenge over ‘knife robbery’
ABIGAIL DONOGHUE
ABOY from Runcorn has lost his chance at his American dream after planned attack on a Widnes teenager.
Jack Bernard Smith, 19, Heysham Close, Runcorn and Finlaye James Foster of De Lacy Row have been sentenced for GBH and possession of a weapon, at Liverpool Crown Court.
In January 2017, Foster, 19 alleges her was robbed at knife point, being forced to hand over £120. He then decided to get revenge and contacted his friends, Smith and Curtis Leiser-Ford to back him up.
They started their own inquiry on social media to find out who it was that stole the money.
They then decided that the people responsible were from Widnes and narrowed it down to one male in particular. A 15 year old boy from Widnes.
They drove to the area they believed he lived and contacted the victim.
He was told to meet them or his mother would be harmed.
After midnight, the victim went to meet up with Smith, Foster and LeiserFord.
He was punched three times in the face by Smith before trying to run away. Smith took the bat and pushed it against the victim’s throat.
He was pushed to the ground after trying to run again and the victim fractured his wrist.
Fearing further assault the 15 year old said that he was the person who committed the robbery against Foster.
The trio then told him to find the money by the Friday. The victim made a report later that day.
When the boys were arrested the baseball bat was recovered from the car.
Leiser-Ford stood trial in August but was acquitted due to lack of evidence against him.
The victim has said that the attack has damaged him emotionally as he does not like going out for fear of being assaulted. He is scared of sleeping as they know his address. He does not socialise as much any more and does not attend school as much as the attackers know what time school starts and begins. He has therefore fallen behind on his work.
He was also a promising rugby player has since had to give it up as his wrist is misaligned and he believes it has been weakened by the assault.
The defence said that Foster is ‘full of remorse and regret.’
He could have told the police but decided to sort it out himself which was was out of character for him, the court heard.
A pre-sentence report deemed him to be at a low risk of re-offending and a low risk to the public.
Smith had eight character references that complimented him on his sporting talent, calling him gifted and respected.
The defence described how he plays golf, a sport ● that involves gentlemanly conduct and believe that peer pressure was probably involved drawing him in to deal with something that was not his matter.
Smith had a scholarship based on his golf playing talent to go to America and he played for Cheshire. Both of these things have been put back due to the court proceedings.
The defence added: “In the competitive industry he is now further down the pecking order.”
His mother said she has seen ‘a real change in his behaviours. He does understand and he has to take responsibility for his actions.’
He misplaced his loyalty and trust to a friend.
Judge Trevor-Jones said: “Foster was subject or victim of a robbery, forced to hand over £120. You were clearly aggrieved and instead of calling the police, you recruited the help of Mr Smith and Mr Leiser-Ford.”
“Given the first robbery was, according to Foster, at knife point this was reckless to be doing and was taking the law into your own hands.”
“You had back-up of a weapon and your friends.”
“You inquired and tried to chase who was responsible.”
The victim was 15 years and subjected to an attack, he was punched, put in a headlock and knocked to the ground.
He added it was ‘foolhardy and unrealistic’ and ‘Taking the law into their own hands’.
He said that they are young with no convictions, no previous trouble and it is out of character, However, taking law into own hands is serious.
They both received a 12 month sentence suspended for 18 months and 200 hours of unpaid work each.
Judge Trevor-Jones ended with a warning: “Don’t get into trouble ot appear back before court.”