'Happy slap' attack man sentenced

Beck's mobile phone footage was shown in court

A man has been sentenced to 20 months in a young offenders' institution for filming a so-called "happy slapping" attack on his mobile phone.

Daniel Michael Beck, 18, from Flint, filmed the assault on a 16-year-old while giving instructions to two other youths on what to do.

He admitted "assault on the basis of a joint enterprise" at Mold Crown Court.

The two 15-year-olds who attacked the victim have already received 18 months and 12 months detention.

The film was played to the court, showing all three laughing and a close up of the victim's bloodied face.

The teenager was walking to his grandmother's house in Flint when he was set upon.

The court heard how Beck took the film as he encouraged the two youths to attack.

You will not come out until the parole board considered you are safe, it is as simple as that Judge John Rogers QC

The footage showed one holding the victim's head as the other attacked him, breaking his nose.

He was also punched and kicked while lying on the ground.

As the victim was being kicked on the floor, Beck could be heard to shout "and again" and then said "go on, go on".

Beck did not take part in the attack but admitted an assault, occasioning actual bodily harm, on the basis of a joint enterprise, and breaching his Asbo.

Sion ap Mihangel, prosecuting, said: "The incident is what is commonly known as happy slapping, in other words the taking of a video clip on a mobile phone so that it can be shown to others later.

'Sadistic bullying'

"The victim was defenceless and was kicked and punched with the defendant directing matters."

The judge said the victim had been clearly terrified by the "sadistic bullying" which had caused unpleasant injuries and given him considerable trauma.

Judge John Rogers QC, warned him that if he did not change his ways then he would end up being locked up for public protection.

He said: "You will not come out until the parole board considered you are safe, it is as simple as that."

The victim was left with a broken nose, two black eyes, cuts to the inside and outside of his mouth, lumps to the back of the head and cuts and bruises to the elbows, caused by grit and pieces of glass.

Blows

Paul Smith, defending, said that it was accepted that it was a nasty incident and his client was starting to realise the serious position he was in.

He said his client was shocked at the way the attack had been described in the pre-sentence report and had vowed on his release from the inevitable custodial sentence to take up his previous plumbing training.

Earlier, the two 15-year-olds who attacked the victim were sentenced at Flintshire magistrates' court.

The youth who held the victim's head received 18 months detention and training order. The other, who inflicted most of the blows received 12 months.