Three youths attacked another teenager and posed for a "trophy" photo with their victim "like hunters in the jungle boasting about an animal they had just shot", a judge said today. Footage was also played showing one kicking the teenager's head “like a football” which the judge branded "sickening".

Mold Crown Court heard the victim had gone to Greenfield Heritage Park in Flintshire on July 17, 2022. One defendant offered him a drink but he has little recollection about what happened next and woke up in hospital.

The court heard he had suffered cuts and bruises and had blood on his face. He was given medication and returned home. But he fell ill and an ambulance took him to hospital again. He had a CT scan on a bruised lung but was "critically unwell" due to his diabetes.

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However prosecutor Emmalyne Downing said it emerged there had been a "fight". The prosecutor played a shocking clip showing the three defendants punching, stamping and kicking the teenager n the head "like a football". You can sign up for all the latest court stories here

All three, who cannot be named due to their age, pleaded guilty to attempting to cause grievous bodily harm with intent. In a victim statement the injured teenager said he lost the feeling in the side of his face and neck for three months.

He felt humiliated and couldn't comprehend how other people could attack another human being in this way. Myles Wilson, defending one defendant, now aged 16, said he was remorseful.

He said teachers had been shocked that a second 16-year-old was involved. Dafydd Roberts, defending, said a third defendant, 16 at the time, is really a "caring, loving and thoughtful young man".

But the judge His Honour Niclas Parry told the three accomplices they fell to be sentenced for a "sickening, sustained and vicious intending to cause as much harm as you could on a victim who was as vulnerable as could be.

"The man on the floor was nothing more than a dummy." Incredibly he had escaped serious injury.

There was doubt when a "trophy" photo had been taken. If it was before the attack it showed what a state the victim was in. If it had been after the attack they were "like hunters in the jungle boasting about an animal they have just shot", said judge Parry.

He gave two 16-year-olds a youth rehabilitation order for two years. They must wear a tag during a four-month curfew from 6.30pm until 6am, and do 80 hours of unpaid work.

The third defendant got a two-community order with 25 days of rehabilitation activity and an identical curfew.

The judge also made a five-year restraining order prohibiting the youths from contacting the victim or referring to him on social media.

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