Four teens in gang attack (From Penarth Times)

Four teens in gang attack

THREE teenage yobs from Penarth were last week convicted of affray by Cardiff Crown Court after attacking a man in the street outside his own home.

Labourer Craig Marsh, aged 18, had to have metal plates inserted into his face after suffering a fractured jaw when he was punched and kicked in the head. David Youd, aged 16, of Shakespeare Avenue, Darryl Earls, 16, of Andrew Road, and Karl Young, 18, also of Andrew Road, admitted affray and were all sentenced to 60 hours community punishment. They were joined in court by a fourth teenage assailant, Tryston Winton, of Barry.

Cardiff Crown Court heard how Mr Marsh's mother feared for his life after seeing her son covered in blood.

Four assailants appeared in the dock, but the prosecution made clear that others had been involved.

The court was told that Craig Marsh had earlier punched one of the four for shouting abuse at his aunt while she was buying electricity tokens at the local Spar store in Penarth.

A short time later the gang had gathered outside his house. Mr Justice Pitchford said: "I do not condone what Mr Marsh did but you could have all left well alone. Instead you made your way to his home and attacked him with missiles, feet and fists.

"It was not possible to say who caused the injuries when such a large group of young men congregate on the streets and behave in this way." The judge also ordered that Trystan Winton, 17, of Plymouth Road, Barry, be electronically tagged for 12 weeks to keep him indoors at night. Winton admitted a public order breach having followed the gang to the house but did not use violence.

The judge said keeping an eye on the four, instead of locking them up for a short time then releasing them without supervision, was best for Penarth.