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Two soldiers jailed for assault on disabled teenagers | Two soldiers jailed for assault on disabled teenagers |
(35 minutes later) | |
Two soldiers have been jailed after viciously assaulting two disabled teenagers for their own entertainment in what a judge described as a “chilling and sadistic attack”. | Two soldiers have been jailed after viciously assaulting two disabled teenagers for their own entertainment in what a judge described as a “chilling and sadistic attack”. |
Jason Ferguson, 18, and John Ward, 19, lured their victims into an alley after meeting them on a drunken night out near their army camp at Sennybridge in the Brecon Beacons. | Jason Ferguson, 18, and John Ward, 19, lured their victims into an alley after meeting them on a drunken night out near their army camp at Sennybridge in the Brecon Beacons. |
The teenagers – a 16-year-old deaf boy with autism and his 18-year-old autistic friend – were then assaulted and subjected to verbal abuse. | The teenagers – a 16-year-old deaf boy with autism and his 18-year-old autistic friend – were then assaulted and subjected to verbal abuse. |
Prosecutor Sue Ferrier said: “What happened beggars belief. They were unlucky enough to cross the paths of these men who had been drinking all night and were heavily intoxicated.” | Prosecutor Sue Ferrier said: “What happened beggars belief. They were unlucky enough to cross the paths of these men who had been drinking all night and were heavily intoxicated.” |
“Their two victims were targeted. They were identified because of their particular vulnerabilities.” | “Their two victims were targeted. They were identified because of their particular vulnerabilities.” |
Merthyr Tydfil crown court was told that the “naive, trusting and innocent” teenagers believed the two squaddies, who were based near their home village, were being friendly. | Merthyr Tydfil crown court was told that the “naive, trusting and innocent” teenagers believed the two squaddies, who were based near their home village, were being friendly. |
Ferrier said that the two young victims led sheltered lives, adding: “They were particularly naive. They did not appreciate they were being lined up with what was to follow – a brutal and sadistic attack.” | Ferrier said that the two young victims led sheltered lives, adding: “They were particularly naive. They did not appreciate they were being lined up with what was to follow – a brutal and sadistic attack.” |
After coming across the teenagers as they were walking home together, the two soldiers began verbally abusing them and filming the insults on their phones, the court was told. | After coming across the teenagers as they were walking home together, the two soldiers began verbally abusing them and filming the insults on their phones, the court was told. |
After they were led into the alley, the younger boy was beaten and kicked unconscious by Ferguson as his friend was held back by Ward. The 16-year-old was left in a coma for three days. | After they were led into the alley, the younger boy was beaten and kicked unconscious by Ferguson as his friend was held back by Ward. The 16-year-old was left in a coma for three days. |
His friend was then punched, kicked and hit with a terracotta pot from a nearby house, but managed to escape and raise the alarm at home. | His friend was then punched, kicked and hit with a terracotta pot from a nearby house, but managed to escape and raise the alarm at home. |
Ferguson and Ward, privates attached to 3 Scots, burned their clothing in woodland before heading back to their camp after the attack in July 2015. | |
One of their victims is deaf while the other was described as a “caring young man” who spends a lot of time indoors on his Xbox and struggles to mix with people. | One of their victims is deaf while the other was described as a “caring young man” who spends a lot of time indoors on his Xbox and struggles to mix with people. |
Ferguson, of Leyland, Lancashire, admitted two counts of wounding with intent to do grievous bodily harm. His defence lawyer said that he had a wretched upbringing and had been abandoned by his drug-addicted parents before entering the army at the age of 16. | Ferguson, of Leyland, Lancashire, admitted two counts of wounding with intent to do grievous bodily harm. His defence lawyer said that he had a wretched upbringing and had been abandoned by his drug-addicted parents before entering the army at the age of 16. |
Ward, of Oakley, Fife, admitted wounding with intent to do grievous bodily harm and unlawful wounding. His lawyer said that Ward would have not done what he did had it not been for Ferguson. | Ward, of Oakley, Fife, admitted wounding with intent to do grievous bodily harm and unlawful wounding. His lawyer said that Ward would have not done what he did had it not been for Ferguson. |
Ferguson was sentenced to eight years and eight months in a young offender institution and Ward for seven years. | Ferguson was sentenced to eight years and eight months in a young offender institution and Ward for seven years. |
Judge Daniel Williams told them: “You saw those boys as entertainment and you saw their differences as reason to torment and bully them and beat them unconscious. | Judge Daniel Williams told them: “You saw those boys as entertainment and you saw their differences as reason to torment and bully them and beat them unconscious. |
“There was gratuitous degradation. Miraculously, there was no long-term physical injury.” | “There was gratuitous degradation. Miraculously, there was no long-term physical injury.” |
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