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Teens behaved like 'a pack of animals'

10:09pm Thursday 24th January 2008

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FOUR teenagers who set upon an innocent window cleaner "like a pack of animals" have today been jailed for a total of 11 years.

Judge Norman Wright blasted the gang as he sent them to prison after being told they attacked Ian Dewhurst simply because he had the "misfortune to walk past them".

Mr Dewhurst's teeth were kicked out and he had several ribs broken.

After the yobs were sentenced, Mr Dewhurst said the punishment was "justice in some ways" but that he had been left in fear.

And a councillor who represents the area where the attack happened in Blackburn branded them "utter hooligans" who should be "ashamed of themselves".

Preston Crown Court was told that Mr Dewhurst, 47, was attacked as he walked past the group, who were sat on a wall.

He had just bought some lager from an off licence in Granville Road, Blackburn.

The self-employed window cleaner, who lives off Preston New Road, had his teeth kicked out and several ribs broken during the incident on November 30, 2006.

Mr Dewhurst, who is also a full time carer for his disabled partner, was unable to work for several months and had to pay out over £700 to have his teeth replaced.

The four teenagers robbed him of just £10 which they spent in a takeaway after the attack.

The youths were caught by police following CCTV evidence. One of the youths was 14 at the time.

Two 16-year-old boys, who can't be named for legal reasons, a 17-year-old boy, who also cannot be named, and Yasin Ali Khan, 18, of Preston New Road, Blackburn, pleaded guilty to robbery.

Ali Khan and the 17-year-old were sentenced to three years and two months.

One of the 16-year-olds was sentenced to two years and 11 months, while the other got two years and eight months.

All four were sent to youth detention after Judge Wright said that a community order or a detention and training order was not a suitable punishment for them.

The judge said: "On that evening Mr Dewhurst was going about his business.

"He bought some lager and outside the shop he had the misfortune of going past you and the other youths.

"He was attacked, punched to the ground and there were threats to kill him.

"All he had was £10. That was the fruits of your escapade.

"All of you were like a pack of animals, kicking a man on the ground.

"He suffered serious injuries but apart from the physical injuries there is also the psychological aspect.

"It is not surprising he is frightened to go out at night when he was attacked in this way.

"All of you should be thoroughly ashamed of your behaviour that night."

Mr Dewhurst said: "The sentence the judge passed is justice in some ways.

"They have been shown this behaviour cannot carry on.

"This was the second time I was attacked in two weeks - who is to say there isn't someone who will act in the same way as them?

"They have affected me in a psychological way but I am pleased with the sentence."

Corporation Park ward councillor Abdul Rehman said: "This was an atrocious attack on an upstanding member of the community.

"What happened to this man was totally uncalled for and was nothing but utter hooliganism.

"The people responsible ought to be ashamed of themselves.

"I hope the sentences will give them time to reflect on their behaviour."

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Ashamed Asain, Blackburn says...
11:57pm Wed 14 May 08

Look at his face, the little moron, I hope you drop the soap many times in jail ! You total looser, all for £10 !! Why not break your dads legs and pinch his giro !??

Shame on you yobs on New Bank Rd !
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Rosie O'Jonell, Walla Walla, Washington says...
2:21pm Tue 13 May 08

PEANUT BUTTER JELLY TIME PEANUT BUTTER JELLY TIME PEANUT BUTTER JELLY TIME PEANUT BUTTER JELLY TIME PEANUT BUTTER JELLY TIME PEANUT BUTTER JELLY TIME PEANUT BUTTER JELLY TIME PEANUT BUTTER JELLY TIME PEANUT BUTTER JELLY TIME PEANUT BUTTER JELLY TIME PEANUT BUTTER JELLY TIME PEANUT BUTTER JELLY TIME PEANUT BUTTER JELLY TIME PEANUT BUTTER JELLY TIME PEANUT BUTTER JELLY TIME PEANUT BUTTER JELLY TIME PEANUT BUTTER JELLY TIME
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Bono Jones, Juneau, Alaska says...
2:46pm Mon 12 May 08

MY NAME IS FLAVA-FLAVALICIOUS
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Abby, Blackburn says...
2:51pm Sun 20 Apr 08

I don't see any racist comments when white people commit any crimes i wonder why?

Anyways to the point, this guy is one fat ugly cnut he should be locked away because i don't wanna see that face. I've seen bulldoggs better looking that this cheeseburger muching le cok wearing prickk.
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farmer tayab, new bank road says...
8:09pm Thu 7 Feb 08

im a farmer an my animals behave better for a tenner that is a disgrace
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Chris, says...
11:15am Wed 30 Jan 08

We are each of us racist, wether we like it or not, wether we can admit it or not. Race is just another group differentiation and we are a pack or group animal, wether we like it or not, wether we admit it or not. The pack instinct is why we form social cooperatives, in order to trade skills and abilities and succeed as a collective. The groups which we subscribe to are those where we find common values as well as common physical characteristics, whether we like it or not, wether we admit it or not. Anything else is forced integration such as at school or work, where we haven't full free choice.
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englishwhite, bburn says...
9:46pm Tue 29 Jan 08

Halfcaste wrote:
New Bank 4 Eva.... First of all, I'm not racist, I'm half pakistani, but your comment is absolute balls to be honest!! Read the article... They took £10 and went to a takeaway - when did they realise it was a mistake? When they were bouncing on his head and chest? When they were shovelling food in their mouths? Or when they had been caught?? As for you would rather knock someone out than be racist - that's an absolutely ridiculous statement to make. No matter where these people come from or what religious beliefs or views they may have (or supposed to have) - they were wrong to do what they did. There's good and bad in all walks of life. People like you with comments, suggestions and opinions like that are just morons. Right and wrong is not defined by who someone is or where they come from and that's what people need to realise before they start having a go about these boys being asian or on the other hand, before people like you start accusing people of being racist for having the brains to know that this act of barbarianism is unnacceptable - regardless of who has done it. (Sorry if you can't understand my correctly spelt post)
hear hear no wonder racism exsists its fueled by immaturity towards the topic, in all cultures..( and bad spelling!!!)
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Halfcaste, Blackburn says...
7:52pm Mon 28 Jan 08

New Bank 4 Eva....

First of all, I'm not racist, I'm half pakistani, but your comment is absolute balls to be honest!!

Read the article...

They took £10 and went to a takeaway - when did they realise it was a mistake?

When they were bouncing on his head and chest?

When they were shovelling food in their mouths?

Or when they had been caught??

As for you would rather knock someone out than be racist - that's an absolutely ridiculous statement to make.

No matter where these people come from or what religious beliefs or views they may have (or supposed to have) - they were wrong to do what they did. There's good and bad in all walks of life. People like you with comments, suggestions and opinions like that are just morons.

Right and wrong is not defined by who someone is or where they come from and that's what people need to realise before they start having a go about these boys being asian or on the other hand, before people like you start accusing people of being racist for having the brains to know that this act of barbarianism is unnacceptable - regardless of who has done it.

(Sorry if you can't understand my correctly spelt post)
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NEW BANK 4 EVA, BLACKBURN,NEW BANK says...
6:30pm Mon 28 Jan 08

a new dwm 4 people very well.ma m8s.dey dint deserve da sentence dey gt.its 2much.av syn people get less sentenc 4 a worse crime.n 4 all u people posting comments,well most of u should b locked bcuz ur al racist relating it al on asians.ad rather nok sum1 out dan b racist.it was a mistake dey regret,n a no da cuz dey tld me hw much dey regret it.dey er al willing to apologise to mr dewhurst 4 wat dey dun cuz dey neww str8 away dey made a mistake.
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AFZAL, BURNLEY says...
2:47pm Mon 28 Jan 08

THEY DESERVE TO ROT IN HELL.ANIMALS LIKE THIS DESERVE A BIGGER SENTENCE...
Report this post »

new bank, blackburn says...
1:00pm Mon 28 Jan 08

i know all these scumbag they beg on the streets for money one of the where in school went beardwood school
Report this post »

junior, blackburn says...
11:20am Mon 28 Jan 08

totally agree with andrew j farrow. public flogging should come back. as he saying goes - 'an eye for an eye.'
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Confused, Blackburn says...
12:36am Sun 27 Jan 08

Peer pressure is the reason why a 15 year old will try smoking or drinking. . . it doesn't make you jump all over someone in the street and beat them up. Anyone with half a brain knows that is wrong and they shouldn't have done it.
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Blackburn Lass, Blackburn says...
12:17am Sun 27 Jan 08

Blackburn Lass wrote:
This is disgusting and the fact that kids of today would even think abotu behaving in such a way is disturbing. I'm in my 20's and the fact that me and my younger brother knew that my dad would have given us a quick backhander was enough to make us behave so it never got to that stage but now you have all these do gooders saying you can't discipline your children... kinds think they can get away with what they want. Understandably thhere is a very fine line between discipline and child abuse but a lot of parent are terrified to tell a child off for doing something wrong and eventually, as they grow up, a percentage of them are spiraling out of control and look at what's happening to society!!
Oops.... sorry about the typing mistakes and it won't let me edit my post either - think it's time for bed!
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Blackburn Lass, Blackburn says...
12:14am Sun 27 Jan 08

This is disgusting and the fact that kids of today would even think abotu behaving in such a way is disturbing. I'm in my 20's and the fact that me and my younger brother knew that my dad would have given us a quick backhander was enough to make us behave so it never got to that stage but now you have all these do gooders saying you can't discipline your children... kinds think they can get away with what they want. Understandably thhere is a very fine line between discipline and child abuse but a lot of parent are terrified to tell a child off for doing something wrong and eventually, as they grow up, a percentage of them are spiraling out of control and look at what's happening to society!!
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YASEEN, Blackburn says...
4:52pm Sat 26 Jan 08

Pity you didn't get sent down with them "ANONIMUS". Your spelling is criminal.

how could a 14 year old nok a 42 year old owt cm on ppl use ur brains


Quite easily given that there was four of them on one bloke and the 14 year old was the youngest of the pack.

I'm guessing you've had a few knocks to the head already given your brain doesn't seem to be working too well!
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ANONIMUS, Blackburn says...
4:30pm Sat 26 Jan 08

I no these lads i feel sorry for them i think that is out of order they shoul hav not even got sent down at all the people who did the attak got away just b cus they sd no coment all the way through there interview and they new what to say as theyv been arested many times before but these poor lads comitted their 1st affence and the police had to blame some 1 and twisted these young lads minds. they also didnt mention in the papers that the kids were only 14 at the tyme this happend 2 years ago how could a 14 year old nok a 42 year old owt cm on ppl use ur brains !!!!!
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stooball66, Blackburn says...
2:46pm Sat 26 Jan 08

Jack Straw for once in his life can really do something useful now he is Justice Secretary change the law that scum like this are flogged to within a inch of there lives and then export them to siberia
One really good thing he could do is get rid of this stupid law that people in crime must be over 17Yrs years old before they can be named this is totally wrong if we knew who the scumbags are and where they hang out then we could soon stop it.Did someone mention the police forget it i am hoping for a rebate for the good that lot are.
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JAM, blackburn says...
11:58am Sat 26 Jan 08

ONE OF THE LADS WAS A GOOD MATE OF MINE SOUND AS A POUND NOT VIOLENT OR ANYTHING BUT THE ONLY DIFFERENCE WAS HE WAS ROAMING THE STREETS OF NEW BANK AND I WAS'NT THAT I THINK IS THE REASON HE GOT INTO THIS. NEW BANK ROAD IS LIKE THE COMING UP MOSSIDE OR THE BRIXTON OF THE NORTHWEST SO IN MY BOOK THE ONLY PEOPLE WHO CAN PUT A STOP TO IT IS THE POLICE....
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John Dawes, Barrowford says...
10:54pm Fri 25 Jan 08

There is no justice. They'll be out before you know it.

Flog the bastards
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abid, blackburn says...
9:37pm Fri 25 Jan 08

and wheres this **** gonna end up in a proper jail or a youth cantre where he can enjoy life and then come out and brag about how much fun he had. send them to proper adult jails and then they will never commit crime again
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Snoop Doggy Dog, Blackburn New Bank says...
7:05pm Fri 25 Jan 08

you scumbbags-people like you give us true new bankers a bad name
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Baz, Accy says...
4:33pm Fri 25 Jan 08

I agree with you shiraz, most english people don't run away to escape our problems. we work together with all races to create harmony and a better way of life for all of us. I have never experienced an Asian person forcing their religious views upon me. We can all live together - and yet still retain our own identities and dignity!
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mike rigby, blackburn says...
4:21pm Fri 25 Jan 08

I do wish people would refrain from calling these scumbags 'animals.'
They are human beings, No animal would behave like this.
They should have been given a bloody good hiding as well as a much longer prison sentence.
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Darren lass, DARWEN says...
4:20pm Fri 25 Jan 08

Government makes me sick, what a statement, "YOU SHOULD BE ASHAMED OF YOURSELF" dont be pathetic, you might has well have said, "what naughty boys you are" and now we will smack the back of your hands for that. Send um in the bloody army if they want to fight, lets see what heros, and what they are made of then.
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shiraz hussain, NEW BANK says...
4:01pm Fri 25 Jan 08

FIRST OF ALL I WOULD LIKE TO SAY GOOD RIDDANCE TO OZZY CHRIS HE SEEMS SO NARROW MINDED HE PROBABLY DOES NOT HAVE A BRAIN, I AGREE THIS ACT CANNOT BE CONDONED BUT WHEN IT COMES TO BBURN WHY DOES THE PERSONS ETHNICITY ALWAYS COME INTO IT, STREET GANGS AND ATTACKS IS A NATIONWIDE PROBLEM AND ALL THE YOUNGSTERS ARE IN ON IT REGARDLESS OF ETHNICITY. LOOK AT CHESHIRE WHERE THEM WHITE LADS KICKED A FATHER OF 3 TO DEATH OR IN LONDON WHERE THE KNIFE ATTACK RATE IS ON THE RISE IT IS PART OF THE BRITISH CULTURE NOW AND IT IS NOT JUST THE ASIANS, AND NARROW MINDED PPL LIKE OZZY MAKE IT WORSE!! GROW UP KID!!
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Gene Hunt, Mars says...
3:23pm Fri 25 Jan 08

steve wrote:
I`m glad they`ve all been sentenced,allbeit quite leniently,but I don`t think it`s fair to blame the parents.How many of you with children can say that you always know where they are when outside the home?This behaviour is getting more and more common amongst ALL young men, whatever their colour or creed.Until the courts start handing down realy stiff sentences, it will continue.
Steve, the parents are to blame for not instilling a sense of right and wrong into them at an early age. That coupled with the fact that this great nation of ours has too many do gooders protecting the rights of this wayward minority of thugs. The writing was on the wall when caning in schools was abolished in the early eighties and the loony left do gooders started interfering with parental responsibilities of chastisement. IMHO.
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bystander, lancs says...
3:15pm Fri 25 Jan 08

This sort of offence is disgusting and the attackers should be executed. They will come out of prison and carry on. Mark my words.
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Ian the Beancounter, Darwen says...
1:38pm Fri 25 Jan 08

Ian the Beancounter wrote:
OK, LT.I know that some of the comments were too racist, but mine was calling for more tolerance - so why has it been removed??
Thank you LT. By restoring my post you've also restored my faith in (partially) free speech!
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Shahid, Blackburn says...
1:33pm Fri 25 Jan 08

I am sorry about the behaviour of some youth who acted like animals. These youngesters have been punished and I hope they learn from their mistake. We need to feel safe walking ob the streets of Blackburn. I hope Mr. Dewhurst feel comfort that these animals are locked in prison. I still feel they should be locked for ever so we don't see these people walking ob the street again and making people like Mr.Dewhurst unsafe to walk on the street. Please lets work together to get rid of this gang culture.
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Ian the Beancounter, Darwen says...
1:05pm Fri 25 Jan 08

OK, LT.I know that some of the comments were too racist, but mine was calling for more tolerance - so why has it been removed??
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NZ, Blackburn says...
12:43pm Fri 25 Jan 08

Trash is Trash no matter what the colour!! Why is it that everything resorts back to the persons ethnicity. Does anyone ever wonder why the LET makes the reporting ofcrimes committed by Asians, such a priority!! maybe theres some hidden agenda !!!
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Ian the Beancounter, Darwen says...
12:18pm Fri 25 Jan 08

Jack Black and Alex - I have also looked at the website. Don't you think, however, it's a bit biased! It's obviously the BNP who are behind it. I don't deny that a lot of crime is committed by Pakistani youngsters, but let's not forget that they're not all like that. I have known and worked with many perfectly respectable Pakistanis over the years, and I think that these comments and this website are designed purely to stir up further animosity. It does no-one any good, except those who like to rant and rave. Save your objections to immigrants being here for the Government, both local and central, who have positively encouraged the growth of immigration.
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Mrs Patel, Blackburn says...
11:35am Fri 25 Jan 08

They should have been locked up and thrown away the key and name the youths stupid morons

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steve, accrington says...
11:11am Fri 25 Jan 08

I`m glad they`ve all been sentenced,allbeit quite leniently,but I don`t think it`s fair to blame the parents.How many of you with children can say that you always know where they are when outside the home?This behaviour is getting more and more common amongst ALL young men, whatever their colour or creed.Until the courts start handing down realy stiff sentences, it will continue.
Report this post »

Andrew J Farrow, Clitheroe says...
8:22am Fri 25 Jan 08

bring back public flogging - the little scroats will really learn the error of thier ways after 20 lashes .
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Dave, Hyndburn says...
7:45am Fri 25 Jan 08

Scum like these should be named and shamed no matter what thier age. Pictures of them should apear in thier local papers to bring shame on thier familys as well.
It might make idiots like this think twice in future.
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ahmed ashed (joiner), I make sheds says...
6:19am Fri 25 Jan 08

Name and shame these animals,change the law, and also name and shame their parents.These Animals are not fit to be part of the human race.
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RHME, Burnley says...
2:42am Fri 25 Jan 08

If it be, Celts Anglo Saxon Normans Asians or what ever. we should be able to walk the street in safety here in the UK, but sadly we are not.
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alan, blackburn says...
12:52am Fri 25 Jan 08

Three years and two months minus 50% for GOOD behaviour is not nearly enough for these scumbags. If the courts are serious about reducing muggings, rapes and serious assaults they must come down MUCH harder on scum like this how about a five year minimum tarrif for crimes like this?
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Tubby Scruff, says...
12:00am Fri 25 Jan 08

Just like to say it's pleasing to see Asian posters on here. Hopefully some of the morons will realise Asians too are disgusted and sick at the actions of these yobs.
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sid, new bank area says...
11:22pm Thu 24 Jan 08

Just like to say that u stupid idiots are giving all us asians a bad name, u hang out all hours there messin about, well the sad bit is the the parents have failed in bringing scum up like u lot, parents should be asking themselves wot ur upto 2 and wot time u should be in the house. Parents of these lads you should be ashamed of yourselves you are to blame for this, you should be keeping tabs on the children, You really have failed. SHAME ON YOU
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ashraf, blackburn says...
10:38pm Thu 24 Jan 08

Excellent these animals have got what they deserve, I hope this sends a message to the rest of the idiots who hang around on New Bank Road, This area has become a no go zone whether youre asain or white, Ive experienced hassle from a youth who was crossing Granville Road as i drove down it and decided he owned the road he made a v gesture to me because i had to stop abruptly as he emerged from a car. I had my kids in the car, Im surprised the neighbourhood police arent doing something to address the loitering and drug dealing.
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JAILED: Yasin Ali Khan, one of the gang of four JAILED: Yasin Ali Khan, one of the gang of four

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