Six in court after attack (From Tewkesbury Admag)

Six in court after attack

8:43am Friday 23rd May 2008 in News

SIX boys aged between 14 and 17 who are charged with causing grievous bodily harm to a 16-year-old youth are to stand trial at Gloucester crown court, magistrates ruled yesterday.

The accused youths, all but one of whom is from Tewkesbury, are charged with unlawfully wounding the victim with intent.

The victim was allegedly struck in the face with a metal bar and suffered injuries including a broken jaw.

The boys, who cannot be named because of their age, made their first apparance at Gloucester youth court and were supported at the hearing by members of their families.

The magistrates sent the case to the crown court after they decided their powers were not sufficient to deal with it.

In the dock, were boys aged 14, 15, 17 and two sixteen- year-olds, all from Tewkesbury, and a 14-year-old from Cheltenham.

The court heard that the charge they all face is that on January 24 this year, in Tewkesbury, they jointly with another unlawfully and maliciously wounded the 16-year-old with intent to cause him grievous bodily harm.

Prosecutor Catherine Jones said the Crown's case was that it was a group attack.

She said the victim had been watching TV at 6.30pm when he heard a disturbance outside and went out.After some conversation on the street between the parties, he was attacked and was punched hard to the face, said Ms Jones.

Then, the left side of his face was was struck with an iron bar, the court heard.

The victim went to the floor before each took part in a group activity - kicking him while he was on the floor, she said.

"As a result he went to hospital," added the prosecutor, and later had plates put into his broken jaw.

After retiring, the chairwoman of the bench said that they found it a "grave" crime and the court's powers were insufficient to deal with it.

She said the case would have to be committed to crown court.

The magistrates adjourned the case for a committal hearing at Gloucester Youth Court on Thursday, June 19 at 10am.

The six accused were granted bail.