‘Reservoir Dogs’ gang sentence is fair, says CPS
Comment comes after victim slams sentence
The Crown Prosecution Service says community sentences handed to two women, after a teenager was beaten by a gang in a Reservoir Dogs-style assault, were an “appropriate punishment”.
Their victim demanded a sentence review, claiming his life has become miserable after the gang of four tied him up at a Trafalgar Road flat, before pressing hot curling tongs against him and forcing him to drink washing-up liquid.
But two of the group, Natalie Lilley and Leah White, received a fair sentence, says the CPS, due to their victim insisting neither should be jailed.
Ringleader Brendan Teale and Lorraine Earles, who used the tongs, were both imprisoned. But despite the 19-yearold claiming he was tied up for several hours, Jan Lamping, Yorkshire’s Senior Prosecutor, insists a false imprisonment charge wouldn’t have made much of a difference.
She said: “The view was taken that an assault involving the physical acts perpetrated upon the victim was a more appropriate charge and accurately reflected the gravity of the offending.
“A charge of false imprisonment would not have resulted in a heavier sentence.
“Four convictions have been secured. Two of the de- fendants received custodial sentences and the courts will continue to supervise three of the defendants with the goal of reducing the risk of future offending. There is a complicated background to this case and it would be inappropriate to comment further in the circumstances.”
The group’s victim blasted the “pathetic” sentence in an exclusive interview with The Scarborough News. He says he has been scarred physically and mentally by the traumatic events in November 2013.
“They basically tol d me that they were going to kill me if I didn’t kill myself,” he said.
“I’m still hearing voices today basically saying ‘kill someone or kill yourself ’ – luckily I can control it.”