Youth‘mayneverbe releasedforattack’

Six-year-old victim survives 100ft fall

COURT: A violent and mentally ill teenager who threw a six-yearold boy from the Tate Modern viewing gantry has been told he “may never be released” after being jailed for at least 15 years for attempted murder.

Jonty Bravery, now 18, was said to have had “a big smile on his face” when he was challenged by onlookers.

A VIOLENT and mentally ill teenager who threw a six-year-old boy from the Tate Modern viewing gantry has been told he “may never be released” after being jailed for at least 15 years for attempted murder.

Jonty Bravery, now 18, was said to have had “a big smile on his face” when he was challenged by horrified onlookers – including the victim’s distraught parents – moments after hurling the young tourist over railings.

The victim survived the 100ft (30m) fall, but suffered life-changing injuries – including a bleed on the brain and multiple broken bones – and remains in a wheelchair. He will require round-theclock care support until at least 2022.

The court heard Bravery had been in supported accommodation under the care of Hammersmith and Fulham Social Services, with one-to-one supervision, and had a history of lashing out at staff.

Despite this, he was allowed to leave home, unsupervised, for up to four hours at a time.

Sentencing Bravery, of Ealing in West London, Old Bailey judge Mrs Justice McGowan said: “The fear he (the victim) must have experienced and the horror his parents felt are beyond imagination.

“You had intended to kill someone that day – you almost killed that six-year-old boy.”

A serious case review has now

been launched by Hammersmith and Fulham Council to investigate claims that warnings about Bravery went ignored.

The judge said Bravery’s autism spectrum disorder (ASD) did not explain the attack, and acknowledged expert evidence he presents “a grave and immediate risk to the public”.

The judge added: “You will spend the greater part – if not all – of your life detained … you may never be released.”

Bravery sat impassively with his legs crossed and occasionally placed his hands behind his head as he watched the 20-minute hearing via videolink from Broadmoor Hospital.

Prosecutor Deanna Heer said there was evidence Bravery had long harboured his intent to seriously hurt or kill someone.

The teenager’s admissions were apparently caught on a “shocking, prophetic” secret recording made by carers.

The alarm was not raised with Bravery’s parents.

CCTV footage not shown in court captured the incident at the Tate, then showed Bravery backing away from the railings.

The prosecutor said: “He can be seen to be smiling, with his arms raised.

“At one point, he appears to shrug and laugh.”

Ms Heer told the court Bravery then told the boy’s father: “Yes I am mad.”

He was also heard to say, with a shrug: “It’s not my fault, it’s social services’ fault,” the lawyer said.

A Hammersmith & Fulham Council spokesman said: “We wish to extend our sincere sympathies to the young child and his family after the terrible event at Tate Modern in August 2019. We have been pleased to learn of the progress the child is making.”

You will spend the greater part – if not all of your life – detained.

Mrs Justice McGowan, sentencing Jonty Bravery at the Old Bailey.