Three found guilty of 'horrific' attack... - 16th Mar 2011 2:29pm
Three found guilty of 'horrific' attack on Wirral teenager
A YOUTH had boiling water poured over him during a horrific five hour torture ordeal.
The 18-year-old was repeatedly punched, humiliated and degraded and his attackers even filmed their merciless violence in the 'chilling' attack on a mobile phone.
The 'happy slapping' footage was found by police after Karl O'Mara's three abusers finally abandoned him, injured and traumatised, in a field.
Sentencing ringleader Ross Lambert and his companion Thomas Robinson, both 17, to an indeterminate sentence of detention for public protection Judge David Aubrey, QC, said: "torture of this nature and degree cannot be tolerated in a civilised society."
And he said that worryingly it was the second case this week at Liverpool Crown Court of "young offenders committing grave attacks on innocent victims.
"In my judgement severe sentences must be imposed to deter you and others from committing grave crimes of this nature, not withstanding your youth."
Judge Aubrey said that the events had been described as 'happy slapping'.
"It was nothing of the sort. In my judgement they were acts of sadism. You tormented this young man, you tortured him, you dominated him for about five hours.
"The acts were planned by Lambert and Robinson, they were premeditated ad calculated. Each of you were enjoying each and every moment. Your victim wasn't."
He continued: "One can only just imagine the excruciating pain he must have felt. When asked he described the pain his answer was ten out ten."
The judge said that the mobile phone footage illustrated the pleasure each of you Lambert and Robinson got from each act of savagery.
He said: "It illustrates also the pain, despair and desperation that your victim was feeling. He was at your mercy - you showed him no mercy. He was begging for you to stop, you didn't."
Derogatory remarks were also made to Mr O'Mara during his ordeal and he was forced to repeat them. "It was humiliating and degrading," said Judge Aubrey.
He described the whole incident as "planned, premeditated and chilling. It is purely by good fortune that he was not killed that night at the hands of each of you."
He ordered that Lambert, whom he described as "a very dangerous young man" must serve a minimum of four years and Robinson three years eight months before they can apply for parole.
Robinson, of Raleigh Road, Leasowe and Lambert, of The Channel, New Brighton, pleaded guilty to causing grievous bodily harm with intent, false imprisonment and kidnapping. The court heard they have previous convictions.
Alongside them in the dock at Liverpool Crown Court was Gavin Moore, 17, of also of Raleigh Road, who pleaded guilty to assault causing actual bodily harm involving just filming the last part of the incident.
Moore, who has no previous convictions, was sentenced to 12 months detention and training.
Robert Jensen, prosecuting, told the court that the victim and Robinson had known each other since school days and after some fallings out at the time of the incident, October 23 last year, were on friendly terms.
The night before Mr O'Mara was at Robinson's home drinking. He left but returned about 1am by which time Lambert, whom he knew and Moore, whom he did not know, were there.
They sat drinking together but about 4am he went into the kitchen to take a phone call and as soon as it finished he was punched in the face by Lambert, causing his nose to bleed, and knocked to the floor.
He went upstairs to clean himself up and fearing what might happen sent a text message to his heavily pregnant mother asking for help.
She rang him but Lambert took his phone and said Mr O'Mara had been sick.
Back downstairs Robinson punched him and dragged him into the kitchen where he and Lambert repeatedly kicked him in the face.
He turned his back to the door to protect his face from further kicks and then felt boiling hot water being poured over his body, said Mr Jensen.
"Robinson said O'Mara was soft for coming back to the house because this attack had been planned for two months.
"Mr O'Mara noticed that his skin was literally lifting and coming off his body and his hands and stomach was starting to blister."
He told his attackers he needed to go to hospital but Robinson just pulled some skin from his hand and told him sit down.
He was given towels and taken into the living room and the youths then began videoing their violence on a mobile phone.
Three clips, two filmed by Lambert and the last by Moore, were later found on the phone at Lambert's home and these were played to the court.
In these Mr O'Mara was seen being punched and made to repeat remarks including, "I am a goat, I'm a muppet."
His attackers eventually took him to a field, threatening him not to run away or he would be stabbed and a knife was held to his throat, said Mr Jensen.
"His legs were kicked away by Robinson and Lambert and he received further kicks and stamps to his face.
"He was told if he reported the matter to the police they would burn his mother's house down and cut the baby from her stomach."
Mr O'Mara got home about 8 am and after telling his family what had happened was taken to Whiston Hospital where he was found to have multiple facial fractures and burns to his arms, left hand, abdomen and buttocks, which have since healed.
He was badly affected psychologically, suffers nightmares and flashbacks and has a disturbed sleep pattern.
The court heard that all three defendants were remorseful and ashamed.
THE GLOBE
A YOUTH had boiling water poured over him during a horrific five hour torture ordeal.
The 18-year-old was repeatedly punched, humiliated and degraded and his attackers even filmed their merciless violence in the 'chilling' attack on a mobile phone.
The 'happy slapping' footage was found by police after Karl O'Mara's three abusers finally abandoned him, injured and traumatised, in a field.
Sentencing ringleader Ross Lambert and his companion Thomas Robinson, both 17, to an indeterminate sentence of detention for public protection Judge David Aubrey, QC, said: "torture of this nature and degree cannot be tolerated in a civilised society."
And he said that worryingly it was the second case this week at Liverpool Crown Court of "young offenders committing grave attacks on innocent victims.
"In my judgement severe sentences must be imposed to deter you and others from committing grave crimes of this nature, not withstanding your youth."
Judge Aubrey said that the events had been described as 'happy slapping'.
"It was nothing of the sort. In my judgement they were acts of sadism. You tormented this young man, you tortured him, you dominated him for about five hours.
"The acts were planned by Lambert and Robinson, they were premeditated ad calculated. Each of you were enjoying each and every moment. Your victim wasn't."
He continued: "One can only just imagine the excruciating pain he must have felt. When asked he described the pain his answer was ten out ten."
The judge said that the mobile phone footage illustrated the pleasure each of you Lambert and Robinson got from each act of savagery.
He said: "It illustrates also the pain, despair and desperation that your victim was feeling. He was at your mercy - you showed him no mercy. He was begging for you to stop, you didn't."
Derogatory remarks were also made to Mr O'Mara during his ordeal and he was forced to repeat them. "It was humiliating and degrading," said Judge Aubrey.
He described the whole incident as "planned, premeditated and chilling. It is purely by good fortune that he was not killed that night at the hands of each of you."
He ordered that Lambert, whom he described as "a very dangerous young man" must serve a minimum of four years and Robinson three years eight months before they can apply for parole.
Robinson, of Raleigh Road, Leasowe and Lambert, of The Channel, New Brighton, pleaded guilty to causing grievous bodily harm with intent, false imprisonment and kidnapping. The court heard they have previous convictions.
Alongside them in the dock at Liverpool Crown Court was Gavin Moore, 17, of also of Raleigh Road, who pleaded guilty to assault causing actual bodily harm involving just filming the last part of the incident.
Moore, who has no previous convictions, was sentenced to 12 months detention and training.
Robert Jensen, prosecuting, told the court that the victim and Robinson had known each other since school days and after some fallings out at the time of the incident, October 23 last year, were on friendly terms.
The night before Mr O'Mara was at Robinson's home drinking. He left but returned about 1am by which time Lambert, whom he knew and Moore, whom he did not know, were there.
They sat drinking together but about 4am he went into the kitchen to take a phone call and as soon as it finished he was punched in the face by Lambert, causing his nose to bleed, and knocked to the floor.
He went upstairs to clean himself up and fearing what might happen sent a text message to his heavily pregnant mother asking for help.
She rang him but Lambert took his phone and said Mr O'Mara had been sick.
Back downstairs Robinson punched him and dragged him into the kitchen where he and Lambert repeatedly kicked him in the face.
He turned his back to the door to protect his face from further kicks and then felt boiling hot water being poured over his body, said Mr Jensen.
"Robinson said O'Mara was soft for coming back to the house because this attack had been planned for two months.
"Mr O'Mara noticed that his skin was literally lifting and coming off his body and his hands and stomach was starting to blister."
He told his attackers he needed to go to hospital but Robinson just pulled some skin from his hand and told him sit down.
He was given towels and taken into the living room and the youths then began videoing their violence on a mobile phone.
Three clips, two filmed by Lambert and the last by Moore, were later found on the phone at Lambert's home and these were played to the court.
In these Mr O'Mara was seen being punched and made to repeat remarks including, "I am a goat, I'm a muppet."
His attackers eventually took him to a field, threatening him not to run away or he would be stabbed and a knife was held to his throat, said Mr Jensen.
"His legs were kicked away by Robinson and Lambert and he received further kicks and stamps to his face.
"He was told if he reported the matter to the police they would burn his mother's house down and cut the baby from her stomach."
Mr O'Mara got home about 8 am and after telling his family what had happened was taken to Whiston Hospital where he was found to have multiple facial fractures and burns to his arms, left hand, abdomen and buttocks, which have since healed.
He was badly affected psychologically, suffers nightmares and flashbacks and has a disturbed sleep pattern.
The court heard that all three defendants were remorseful and ashamed.
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