Gang who 'tortured' teen for three days walk free
Exclusive by Paul Britton and Neal Keeling
October 11, 2010
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Andrew Griffin, Nathan Marshall and Jack Bolton filmed the horrific assaults on their defenceless victim
Three evil bullies who subjected a vulnerable teenager to a horrific three-day ‘torture’ ordeal have walked free from court.
Jack Bolton, Andrew Griffin, and Nathan Marshall used a mobile phone to film themselves carrying out depraved assaults on their 17-year-old victim. They kicked and stamped on his head, repeatedly punched him in the chest, beat him with a tennis racket, scratched his arms and leg with sandpaper, and threw him down a steep hill.
The terrified teenager – who suffers from autism and Asperger’s Syndrome – was also pelted with dog mess and forced to drink alcohol until he passed out. Mobile phone footage showed Bolton, Griffin, and Marshall, all 18, laughing and joking as they made him endure other abuse involving his own dog. And, in a final humiliating assault, they applied tape to his genital area before ripping it off.
The vicitm has now fled his home and is living in another part of the country. But the gang are back on the streets after a judge decided NOT to jail them.
Despite admitting the attacks were ‘grotesque’ and could ‘almost be called torture’, Judge Jonathan Geake instead handed out community service orders and three-month curfews as ‘an intensive alternative to custody’.
Victim's family: 'Torture' sentence is a joke
MP Hazel Blears' concern over gang's sentence
The decision was branded a ‘joke’ by the victim’s gran. And his aunt said: "He is just going to feel let down – like the boys have got away with it.They are bullies and they are known for it. They are scum." Hazel Blears, MP for Salford and Eccles, said she was shocked at the sentences and pledged to raise the issue with Justice Secretary Ken Clarke.
Manchester Minshull Street Crown Court heard how the victim had been ‘in total fear’ of the gang he had originally thought were his friends.
The assaults took place at Griffin’s house over three days in May when his parents were away on holiday. In harrowing footage of the abuse played in court, the victim could be heard begging tearfully: ‘Please don’t hurt me’.
The gang told police they carried out the attacks for no reason and because they were bored.
Bolton, of Winchester Road, Ellesmere Park, Eccles, pleaded guilty to assault occasioning actual bodily harm, and common assault. Griffin, of Appley Grange, Eccles, and Marshall, of Verdun Road, Eccles, admitted the same charges.
A police source said: "These people should have received a more severe sentence after what this young man had to endure."
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Showing comments 1 to 25 and replies | View All
Goldengrrrl, Leeds (11/10/2010 at 08:30)
disgusting!! and it's just going to get worse...lovinthebanter, Manchester (11/10/2010 at 16:34)
Lucky for them they didn't just post nasty comments to the lad on facebook, defo would of got a custodial sentence then
Michael Scrimshaw (11/10/2010 at 08:37)
Erm just how didn't they get a jail term for this?? Not only did this lad suffer enough they felt the need to torture him. These sewer rats should get everything that they did to the lad done to them but on a larger scale.Red Devil (11/10/2010 at 08:38)
Its wrong its just so wrong..............................TELL THE TRUTH, TAMESIDE (11/10/2010 at 08:48)
When are people going to stand up and say NO and insist that thugs like this don't get off.
It's alright Hazel Blears saying "she will raise the matter with the Justice Secretary" but everyone knows NOTHING WILL HAPPEN. Nothing will ever change unless we follow examples abroad and take to the streets in protest and insist in change, but lets face it, thats not going to happen.The Devil's Advocate, M11 born and bred, East Stand Lower 104, Manchester (11/10/2010 at 08:48)
Speechless!Ted at the Bar, Eccles (11/10/2010 at 09:05)
Hazel Blears, MP for Salford and Eccles, said she was shocked at the sentences and pledged to raise the issue with Justice Secretary Ken Clarke.What is the point as only the other week Ken Clarke stated that it was his intention to increase the use of community service orders rather than sending low-life such as these three to prison.
David Duck(voice of Reason) (11/10/2010 at 09:09)
The loonnies have taken over the asylumPaul S (11/10/2010 at 09:09)
Beyond words! The judge should be struck off with immediate effect. Then the judiciary should step in and review this case, ensuring that these vermin are put away for a long, long time.But off course none of this will happen, as no money is involved in the crime! I read recently that we have become the worst country in Europe to live. It is outrages such as this that show us why.
Paul, Whalley Range
Rofl Harris (11/10/2010 at 10:31)
Worst country in Europe to live in? Not if you're a free loader or a low life - for those people the UK is a holiday camp. What this country needs is a real leader of men.
Paul S (11/10/2010 at 11:09)
Rolf Harris, I agree, but unfortunately we get Tony Blair, Gordon Brown, David cameron, Nick Clegg.....! The list of spineless leaders who merely champion their own agendas, at the expense of the people, is depressingly endless. Until a leader emerges who puts the rights of the decent, law abiding citizens above the 'rights' of these lowlifes, then we will continue to see this once great country reduced to the pitiful joke it has become.Deterrent must always be the first port of justice; namely penalties put into place that put fear into the hearts of these lawless scum. Only when they truly fear the punishment ... will they refrain from committing the crimes.
Alas, such measures seem as far away as ever, and I for one will not be holding my breath in awaiting their long overdue implementation.
So sadly we are left with the murderers, paedeophiles, rapists and thugs simply running amok, content in the knowledge that a 'slap on the wrist' awaits, IF apprehended.
Paul, Whalley Range
Rofl Harris (11/10/2010 at 11:40)
Fully agree with all your points there Paul. Sadly I sometimes think that too many of us are happy to air all our views on Internet forums (myself included) instead of making a stand and taking an active decision to change the way our country is being run. All of us coming on here and voicing our disgust at these pathetic lowlifes walking away from this hideous crime virtually unscathed is not going to change the situation is it? If 1000s of us come on here and voice our disgust it's still not going to change a thing. I'm fearful this country is becoming a country that types and not a country that acts.
Judean People's Front / Judean Popular People's Front Popular Front of Judea / Campaign for a Free G (11/10/2010 at 09:10)
Quite Right. Jail would do nothing to help these disadvantaged, socially excluded young people, who deserve more from a society that has nothing to offer them.View all 8 repliesAcid, Chadderton (11/10/2010 at 16:09)
Sorry Jude. They're all missing the point. Far too subtle.
Parkey, Worsley (11/10/2010 at 16:37)
One of them is from Ellesmere Park - hardly disadvantaged, socially excluded - just a bully. If we were talking about Nazis torturing jews, you'd be shouting for 3 crucifictions. I think stoning would be better.
'96 and '01, The Double Whammy Years, AIOS (11/10/2010 at 17:48)
Errm. It's called sarcastic humour folks.
Knowsleyman, Paphos (11/10/2010 at 09:13)
I find it very hard to accept that these low life thugs did not get a substantial prison term for a sustained attack on a defenceless man.There has been no justice for the victim after a sentence as stupid as this one.
One only hopes that there is an appeal lodged against sentence.
As for the Judge, well he just beggras belief.
walksyo, droylsden (11/10/2010 at 09:13)
wot message does this send out to wanna be thugs???
O yes,if you get caught it's OK you won't get punished-just do some unpaid work and stay in for a few weeks....typical of this country-the victim suffers, the criminal walks away unhurt laughing......these 3 should be serving 3 years (at least) each....SCUM!!Guy Incognito, Manchester (11/10/2010 at 09:19)
Reminds me of the film ''Dead Man's Shoes'' ... Let's hope this kid has a brother like that...Grasshopper., Tameside (11/10/2010 at 09:20)
Simply not good enough, the system has failed this victim of the worst kind of crime.How on earth the judge can not hand down custodial sentences defies belief.
This judge should come out in public and explain himself.
Michelle Dids (11/10/2010 at 09:23)
Judge Jonathan Geake admitted the attacks were ‘grotesque’ and could ‘almost be called torture’...almost be called torture?? They kicked and stamped on his head, repeatedly punched him in the chest, beat him with a tennis racket, scratched his arms and leg with sandpaper, threw him down a steep hill, pelted with dog mess and forced him to drink alcohol until he passed out, made him endure other abuse involving his own dog and applied tape to his genital area before ripping it off.If this isn't torture, then i don't know what is! Judge Jonathan Geake should be sacked
prestatyn blue, prestatyn. (11/10/2010 at 09:26)
Dont know why Hazel Blears is shocked.It was her government that set up this justice system.This country is truly the laughing stock of the western world.If i had the money id been on the next plane out of here.The puking budgie, Cheadle, Manchester (11/10/2010 at 12:54)
Laughing stock is completly the right description. The whole mess with ridiculous/easy/no jail sentences needs to be resolved along with all the scum that continues to come to the UK because we are seen to be an easy touch.In the meantime, lives of decent soldiers who actually contribute to society are wasted in some far off holes with no chance of sucess for scum that will probably end up living over here!! Complete joke.
tigger34, near shaw (11/10/2010 at 09:34)
Pathetic- the judge needs to be brought to task and made to explain their reasons for letting these feral scum off.Mad Welsh Scotsman, Cadishead (11/10/2010 at 09:37)
"The decision was branded a ‘joke’ by the victim’s gran"And also by most other decent folk aswell. I know prisons are full to the brim, isn't it time we started terminating those who are never likely to be freed such as Bronson and Brady etc. And then sterilize these scum and others like them
Polite Bus Driver Wigan, Wigan (11/10/2010 at 09:38)
chuck them in the stocks, and we all can chuck rotten fruit and veg at these vile morons.aunt sally (11/10/2010 at 09:43)
absolutly disgusting! that poor boy has been physicaly and mentaly tortured and the scum that did this walk free!!as if they will turn up for CS, its a flippin joke the whole system needs a good bloody shake up!!!!
alphonsus(Phonso), Flixton (11/10/2010 at 09:49)
Another own goal by the so called justice system eh? what about the victim? or is this a sign of thing's to come with all these cut back's? cannot send criminals to prison because we are full, so just give them some community service and slap their wrists, o cant slap their wrists as it is against their human rights, must not humiliate them eh? otherwise they will suffer some sort of psychological trauma eh? What about the victim of this crime? These people who feel the need to commit such horrendous crimes need locking up. what are the people who are supposed to know better doing about this type of situation, absoloutely nothing that is what they are doing, nothing. WE THE PUBLIC WANT JUSTICE NOW.redted, Manchester (11/10/2010 at 09:54)
pobably following ken clarkes policy of not jailing fewer people to save moneyChris0706 (11/10/2010 at 10:01)
This is disgusting, I wouldn't be surprised if the victim's family and friends take the law into their own hands and give these thugs a taste of their own medicine. THey will probably get sent to prison thought, there is no justice in this country, they should have been sent to prison for a long time for this attack.d1v1s1onby0, My MEN Backgournd is now BLUE! (11/10/2010 at 10:06)
EASY to fix britain.1. Put another floor on all prisons.
2. Make its primary function as a punishment and deterant (Rehabilitaion is a bonus)
3. Fill it with this scum.
4 Goto 1 'cos the Sky's the LimitIf people reoffend - send them back - EVENTUALLY they will get the message, and in the meantime the rest of us have a better society to live in.
If people do WANT to rehabilitate THEMSELVES then I am all for it and they should be given help. But it isn't societies responsibility - WE CANT MAKE THEM REHABILITATE, but we can remove them until they see sense
derek jones (11/10/2010 at 10:11)
I think long prison sentences without remission, no luxuries and a strict regime might just work on some of these people, any chance of this happening sometime soon?
Judge Jonathan Geake ? Are you scared of these bullies which is why you let them off so lightly? Bullies? torturers.
Gutless man
