Preston man was chased and injured by youths with weapons in city centre

Three young men who chased and attacked a man have been given a chance to get 'drug free' by a judge.
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Connor Harris, 19, of Fishergate Hill, Preston, Taylor Tunstall, 18, of Charlotte Place, Preston, and a 16-year-old, who cannot be named for legal reasons, admitted causing actual bodily harm to the man 18 months ago.

Judge Simon Newell, who deferred their sentences to see how they manage with their rehabilitation, cannabis habits, work, training and accomodation,

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raised concerns about what he branded a "systemic failure" regarding the time it had taken to bring the youths to court.

Preston Crown CourtPreston Crown Court
Preston Crown Court

He remarked young offenders should be dealt with as soon as possible after an offence, and that "victims aren't getting a fair crack of the whip".

Sentencing judges must take into account the lapse of time since an offence, particularly where this is not the fault of the offender.

He pointed out the trio were 15, 16 and 17 at the time of the attack, and added: " A couple of years with men of those ages can lead to substantial changes in their character."

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He went on to say the criminal justice system wasn't "fit for purpose" in this instance, adding: " We're not doing what we should be doing, which is meting out justice in Lancashire's society.

"We have 700 outstanding trials and suggestions it may take years to get back to normal. If we can't get these young men to prison as they should have been last year, what hope have we got to getting back to normal?

Preston Crown Court heard three youngsters had armed themselves with weapons, including a bottle and a baton, and had rained punches and kicks on him in a "sustained and repeated assault".

The incident unfolded at 5pm on Saturday, September 1, 2018.

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Prosecuting, Rachel Woods said: " A young adult, Adam Heyworth, was in Preston city centre. He had arranged to meet up with some females but before doing so he unhappily came across the three defendants, who he knew from the Avenham estate.

"He recognised Harris and described how he was chased through the city centre.

"He recalled somebody shouting: "Yo" and felt something hit the back of his head, and this caused him to stumble.

"As he turned around he was of the view all three of them had some type of a weapon.

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"He recalled running, and tripping over and as he landed on the floor he curled up in a ball to protect himself."

Many people, including an off duty police officer out with his wife witnessed the attack and managed to catch Connor Harris.

On his arrest he said: " I hit him yeah but I didn't hit him with the baton. He deserved it, he's a muppet."

The victim, who suffered two cuts to his temple that were glued at hospital, did not make a victim statement.

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Defending the youngest child, Brendan O'Leary said he came from a hard working law abiding family and said at 15 he would not have been aware of the reality of the offence.

Judge Newell raised the fact all three were still smoking cannabis despite making good progress.

He deferred their sentences until September 11 to see how the young men manage with their rehabilitation, work, training and accommodation, and demanded all to be cannabis free by that date.

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