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Teenagers assaulted
in town centre row
A 30-YEAR-old man, who bragged he ‘owned’ Horncastle, has received a suspended prison sentence after admitting assaulting a group of teenagers in the town centre.
Jonathan Paul Naughton, of Holly Close, admitted assaulting four teenagers by beating when he appeared before District Judge Lawrence at Skegness Magistrates Court. He had previously denied the offences.
A charge of sexual assault against one of the teenagers was dismissed after no evidence was offered. He did admit a charge of assaulting the same teenager by beating.
Sentencing Naughton to eight weeks custody on each of the charges, suspended for two years, District Judge Lawrence said the victims - who cannot be named for legal reasons - must have endured a ‘terrible time’.
Prosecuting, David Beal, said the teenagers - all aged between 14 and 16 - had congregated around a bench in the town centre between five and six o’clock in the evening of October 29 last year.
He said Naughton was ‘out and about’, dressed in combat gear.
He added the teenagers were not interfering with anyone but Naughton thought he was being stared at and went across to them ‘at speed’ and pushed his way through to a 15-year-old boy, headbutted him in the face and tried to hit him with a bag of shopping.
Naughton then ‘sounded off’ about being a ‘tough man’ and claimed he ‘owned Horncastle’.
A 15-year-old girl, who had her arm in a sling because of a broken collarbone, stood up to Naughton and he hit her in the face and on the arm.
The teenagers then took refuge in a nearby kebab takeaway, in a bid to avoid Naughton. Events were recorded on the takeaway’s CCTV camera.
Naughton was seen outside, ‘calling on’ the group which included a 14-year-old girl.
The girl with a sling went out and stood in front of the 14-year-old to defend her and Naughton pushed past her, reached round and pinched the 14 year-old’s bottom. The older girl then launched a blow at him.
Naughton went for her and pushed her out of view of the CCTV camera.
Several people rang the police who arrived and arrested Naughton.
Mr Beal said Naughton could not give any coherent account of his actions.
He alleged he had been ‘verballed’ but he could not give any examples.
In mitigation, Ian Benton said it had been Naughton’s perception, brought on by the alcohol he had drunk, that he had been verbally abused. He now accepted that was wrong.
District Judge Lawrence ordered Naughton must be supervised by the Probation Service for two years and attend a ‘thinking skills’ programme.
Naughton was ordered to pay £200 in costs and £50 compensation to the girl who was injured.
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Weather for Horncastle
Tuesday 18 June 2013
Today
Light rain
Temperature: 13 C to 21 C
Wind Speed: 12 mph
Wind direction: North east
Tomorrow
Light showers
Temperature: 14 C to 23 C
Wind Speed: 12 mph
Wind direction: North west
