Drunk yob jailed for part in gang attack on teens

DRUNKEN Adam Rushton has been jailed after carrying out an unprovoked attack on a teenager.

The 21-year-old was part of a gang who surrounded two teenagers in Bucknall before he assaulting them with another man.

He left an 18-year-old student with a cut and swollen lip and grazes after punching him in the face and knocking him to the ground.

Prosecutor Fiona Cortese told Stoke-on-Trent Crown Court the attack was sparked when a youth growled at the two victims as they walked past a group near the Co-op in Werrington Road.

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"They crossed the road but the group followed and surrounded them," said Miss Cortese.

"One of the youths grabbed the 17-year-old who was kicked.

"Rushton punched the 18-year-old in the face twice, causing him to fall to the ground. He lost consciousness."

The court heard brave passer-by Andrew Evans intervened after seeing two lads being punched and kicked.

Miss Cortese said: "He saw one male kicked to the head like a football and saw them stamp on his head.

"Mr Evans ran over and rugby-tackled the kicker. He was able to pass on descriptions of the youths involved."

Police carried out an area search and found two drunken men nearby.

In a victim statement, Rushton's victim said he was disgusted by what the attackers did to him and his friend. He said no longer feels safe when he goes out and since the assault he feels dizzy and has headaches.

Rushton, of Churchfield Avenue, Dresden, pleaded guilty to assault occasioning actual bodily harm on March 18, 2011.

Catherine O'Reilly, mitigating, said Rushton had little or no recollection of the offence.

But she said Rushton had the good sense to plead guilty.

Miss O'Reilly added: "He has committed a cowardly offence, the type of offending which every decent human being in society would abhor."

Miss O'Reilly asked Judge Paul Glenn to consider stepping back from immediate custody, stating that Rushton was hoping to gain employment in the near future. But the judge said the offence was so serious only custody was appropriate and jailed Rushton for 36 weeks.

Judge Glenn told the defendant: "You and another man conducted a violent and totally unprovoked attack on two young men.

"You were with others in a group looking for trouble.

"Your victim was an 18-year-old student and you punched him twice to the face and knocked him to the ground.

"He was left with a cut lip and feeling unsafe when he goes out.

"He has been referred to a psychologist."

Judge Glenn said the situation could have been much worse but for the brave intervention of Mr Evans.

He added: "It was a premeditated assault. You played a leading role in a group. It was unprovoked and your victim has suffered psychological damage.

"You were drunk and out of control."