Swindon Advertiser
Part of the This Is Wiltshire Network
Swindon Latest News
Swindon Festival of Literature
Regeneration
Send Us A Story
Photo Galleries
Reader Pictures
Send us Your Pics
Travel latest
Letters
Forums
Your Blogs
Campaigns
National News
National Video News
Weather
Election 2008
Race For Life 08
Swindon Cares
VIP
Contact Us
ARCHIVE
Site Map
Search Advanced Search
Swindon Latest News  RSS Feed RSS feed | About
EDITOR'S CHOICE



SHOCK AT DISASTER
CABRERA TO LEAVE UK
Tragic dad flies home
GOT A PROBLEM?
HOW DID THE FLOODS AFFECT YOU?
Tell us your flooding stories
CHECK OUT YOUR STRATTON
USBC Youth visit Alton Towers
DIG DEEP FOR CHRISTIAN AID
Christian Aid Week 2008 (May 11th – 17th):
VOTE
Do you feel enough has been done following last year's floods to prevent a repeat disaster?
Yes
No
GET OUR NEWS BY E-MAIL
Most read Comments
Ten jailed for hammer attack

TEN young men are today starting a total of 17 years behind bars for their part in the brutal attack on Henry Webster.

Henry, now 17, was repeatedly beaten with a claw hammer on the tennis courts of Ridgeway School in Wroughton on January 11 last year.

Thirteen youths were yesterday sentenced for their crimes, following two lengthy trials at Bristol Crown Court.

Three defendants convicted of helping plan the attack, but playing no physical part and not entering the school tennis courts, were give suspended sentences.

Judge Carol Hagen said she held Wasif Khan, 19, of Caversham Close, Walcot, entirely responsible for wielding a claw hammer and striking Henry with it six times.

During the first trial the prosecution was unable to say for certain whether Khan or Amjad Qazi was the hammer man that left Henry brain damaged.

In court Khan accused his former friend, but Judge Hagen said: "I'm in no doubt the person with the hammer was Wasif Khan."

Wasif Khan and nine adult co-defendants arrived in three cars at Ridgeway School on the day of the attack, to seek revenge on Henry who had arranged to have a one-one-one fight with a fellow pupil.

Nazrul Amin, who pleaded guilty to grievous bodily harm with intent, was the first to enter the tennis courts. He admitted throwing the first punches but said he stepped back when Wasif started attacking Henry with the hammer. Amin, 19, was sentenced to 18 months detention at a young offenders' institution.

Judge Hagen said she had reduced his sentence by a year after taking into consideration his guilty plea and a letter he wrote to Henry, read out in court.

In the letter he said: "I know it won't make any difference but I hope you can accept my apology to you and your family."

Four Ridgeway pupils, who cannot be named for legal reasons, pointed Henry out to their adult friends, then kicked and punched him as he lay on the ground bleeding.

The 15-year-old who originally arranged the fight with Henry, was sentenced to 18 months, and his 16-year-old friend to 12 months.

Two other Ridgeway pupils, who pleaded guilty on the first day of the trial were each given eight months behind bars.

Six youngsters were convicted of organising the fight, making telephone calls and sending text messages, before travelling together to the school from Swindon.

Roubel Meah, 21, of County Road, Mahbub Ali, 18, of Broad Street, Bilal Yakub, 18, of Nursery View, Faringdon, Aqduss Rauf, 18, of Hereford Lawn, and Kamran Khan, 19, of Drove Road were all found guilty of conspiracy to commit actual bodily harm.

Judge Hagen said Meah had taken the lead role in planning the attack. Sentencing him to two and a half years in a young offenders' institution she said: "You were the one who instigated the planning to go to Ridgeway School that afternoon."

Ali, Yakub and Kamran Khan who did not enter the school grounds had their sentences suspended for two years, and told they would have to complete 150 hours of unpaid work in the next 12 months.

Faran Yaseen, 18, of Windsor Road, pleaded guilty to violent disorder on the first day of the second trial. He was jailed for eight months.

9:39pm Friday 9th May 2008

Print   Email this
Archive
Search
Thousands of Jobs, Homes & Cars from the Swindon Advertiser
Powered by Powered by Fish4

Top Jobs

Carers
Swindon
Driver
Swindon
Carers
Swindon
Looking for a new car
Want to view the best selection from Swindon and Wiltshire?
Struggling to find that dream job?
Let employers find you for free!
Looking for a new home to buy or let?
Browse thousands in Swindon and surrounding towns
Get your Adver delivered
Only £1 per week! click here for more info
Terms & Conditions
Privacy Policy © Copyright 2001-2008
Newsquest Media Group
A Gannett Company
This site is part of Newsquest's audited local newspaper network