Youth jailed after assault

Two 17 year olds charged with affray and theft have appeared before Deemster Doyle at a Court of General Gaol.

Ricky Ross Bennett, care of the prison, and Nicholas Charles Edge, of Lhon Vane Close, Onchan admitted the offences.

Jane Hughes, prosecuting, said following an exchange of words a 15 year-old boy and friends were followed up Duke's Road, Douglas at 5pm on November 24 last year.

The boy hid but was discovered by the defendants, pushed to the ground and assaulted.

He was unable to say which defendant was responsible for the individual blows, as he was curled up defending himself.

A third youth, not in court, joined in the attack and one of the three allegedly took £20 from the boy, who received bruising and grazing. Bennett accepted that he slapped the boy on the face but denied taking any money.

The matter only came to light when Edge handed himself into police on November 29 and said he was involved in the assault. He also said he wasn't the only one and didn't demand the money. Bennett also denied handling any of it.

Edge's advocate said at the time his client was a juvenile and deserved credit for handing himself in.

It was claimed the petty rivalry over a stupid remark had led to the offence.

Bennett asked for an immediate custodial sentence. He had been on remand for 62 days and wanted to finish the matter and return to his family in Birmingham.

Deemster Doyle said such behaviour would not be tolerated by the courts.

Bennett was jailed for three months and Edge, who was already on probation, had the order extended to May 8, 2009.

(Picture: Douglas courthouse, where Bennett and Edge appeared).