Happy slapper boy behind bars
A Telford teenager was behind bars today after becoming the first person in Shropshire to be convicted for filming a vicious "happy slap" attack. A Telford teenager was behind bars today after becoming the first person in Shropshire to be convicted for filming a vicious "happy slap" attack. The youth filmed a 13-year-old boy being assaulted by two other teenagers on his mobile phone. Now the three, all from Telford and aged 14 and 15, have been given 12-month detention orders after they all admitted their part in the attack. The attackers were sentenced for assault causing actual bodily harm, while the third who filmed it was sentenced for aiding and abetting the crime, when they appeared at Telford Youth Court on Friday. None of the youths can be identified for legal reasons. Read the full story in today's Shropshire Star
A Telford teenager was behind bars today after becoming the first person in Shropshire to be convicted for filming a vicious "happy slap" attack.The youth filmed a 13-year-old boy being assaulted by two other teenagers on his mobile phone.
Now the three, all from Telford and aged 14 and 15, have been given 12-month detention orders after they all admitted their part in the attack.
Prosecutors today welcomed the sentence in the case, which they said was the first recorded "happy-slapping" conviction in Shropshire.
Phil Mason, senior crown prosecutor, who dealt with the case, said: "This was a nasty assault, in fact one of the worst I have viewed during my time as a prosecutor, and the assailants were clearly encouraged by the fact it was being videoed.
"It shows someone videoing an offence for the participants' gratification and is regarded as taking part in the crime, even if they do not physically do so, and cannot escape the consequences of their actions."
The attackers were sentenced for assault causing actual bodily harm, while the third who filmed it was sentenced for aiding and abetting the crime, when they appeared at Telford Youth Court on Friday. None of the youths can be identified for legal reasons.
Claire Riley-Walshe, Shropshire district crown prosecutor, said: "I am delighted with this result, which sends out a strong message these offences, including the act of videoing the assault, are serious crimes."
Chris Ammonds, Telford Police spokesman, said: "We welcome the fact this incident has been treated so seriously by the courts.
"This type of incident is extremely rare in Telford, but we would take any reports of this nature very seriously.
"The victims in this type of case tend to be caught by surprise and can be traumatised by the incident."
The craze of "happy slapping", where someone films an attack on another person on a mobile phone, has swept the country in the last two years. Often the films are posted on social networking websites.
The Crown Prosecution Service says the conviction for aiding and abetting by filming is the first of its kind in Shropshire.
By Tom Johannsen
