A group of “unrepentant”, smiling, baby-faced teens have today been sentenced for “behaving like a bunch of gorillas” when they attacked a teenager with golf clubs, machetes and an axe.

Police were called to Hermitage Road, Rishton, near the old paper mill, at 9pm on August 6, 2021, after Thomas Hilton – who was 17 at the time – had been chased and attacked by a large group of youths when he came to the mill looking for his sister. 

Judge Phillip Parry told the court the attack was "cowardly" and believed all eight of the defendants had been involved in the incident either directly with weapons, or by encouraging each other.

He said: "All of you will be sentenced as a group who attacked Thomas Hilton, without me assigning individual roles to each of you.

"It was said during the course of the trial that several of you had beef with Thomas Hilton, but I never actually found out what that was.

"But all of you confronted him when he was alone.

"I make this very, very clear, all eight of you have behaved disgracefully.

"You should, all eight, be thoroughly ashamed of your actions but I am not at all convinced that you are.

"Many of you have found these proceedings amusing, showing disrespect to the court."

Judge Parry said that had all eight been convicted of s18 wounding with the intent to cause grievous bodily harm they would all be going to youth detention.

As it happens, Judge Parry decided against custody and handed all a mixture of community and rehabilitation orders.

Their sentences are as follows:

  • Danny Yakub, 18, of Blackburn Road, Great Harwood - community order for 18 months, 25 rehabilitation activity days, 180 hours unpaid work
  • Connor Armstrong, 19, of Christ Church Street, Accrington - two year community order, 35 rehabilitation activity days, 200 hours unpaid work
  • James Meagre, 18, of Tinker Brook Close, Oswaldtwistle - community order for two years, 25 rehabilitation activity days, 200 hours unpaid work
  • Davis Hargreaves, 18, of Plantation Road, Accrington - two year community order, 35 rehabilitation activity days, 200 hours unpaid work
  • Kane Taylor, 20, of Ripon Road, Accrington - 18 month community order, 25 rehabilitation activity days, 150 hours unpaid work
  • Jay Slater, 18, of Fountains Way, Oswaldtwistle - 18 month community order, 25 rehabilitation activity days, 150 hours unpaid work
  • The 16-year-old boy - a youth rehabilitation order of 18 months, supervision for 18 months, 91 activity days, a four month curfew between the hours of 7pm and 6am, and an intervention plan
  • The 17-year-old boy - a youth rehabilitation order of 18 months, supervision for 18 months, 91 activity days, a three month curfew between the hours of 7pm and 6am, and an intervention plan

Judge Parry went on to say: "Ten minutes ago I told all eight of you today would be a life changing event.

"You all have a chance now to go in a lawful and law abiding direction.

"I can almost feel the sense of relief from your families, all of whom expected all of you to go into custody.

"You all deserve to.

"I reserve any breaches of all the orders to myself.

"I expect monthly reports in respect of the two youths.

"If I find out any one of you have slipped, there will be no second chances. I will bring you back and re-sentence you.

"If you breach these orders and come back before me, you will be going to youth detention."

Following a trial in April and May, a jury came back and found the eight teenagers, two of whom cannot be named for legal reasons, all guilty of violent disorder.

On an additional charge of s18 wounding with the intent to cause grievous bodily harm, the jury was unable to reach a verdict for Yakub, Armstrong and the 16 and 17-year-olds.

At a further hearing the prosecution said it did not intend to pursue a re-trial on these charges and offered no evidence, with Judge Parry recording a not guilty verdict.

READ MORE: 'Unrepentant', baby-faced teens behaved like ‘bunch of gorillas’ in Rishton attack

Yakub was also found guilty of one count of attempted witness intimidation and one the 16-year-old was found guilty on two counts of attempted witness intimidation.

After the defendants were arrested and charged, the 16-year-old obtained footage of police interviews featuring Mr Hilton and his younger sister, who was present at the time of the attack and who was the subject of the witness intimidation. He recorded these in his solicitor’s office.

He then circulated it on Snapchat, with offensive comments and emojis added in a bid to intimidate them. Those posts were shared by Yakub.

Armstrong and Hargreaves were also sentenced for their involvement in Operation Thunder, an investigation into the supply of drugs in Accrington. The sentence for these offences is reflected in their overall sentence for violent disorder.

Meagre was also sentenced for attempted robbery and attempting to pervert the course of justice by witness intimidation. His sentence for these offences is also reflected in their overall sentence for violent disorder.

An appliction was made by the Lancashire Telegraph to lift the reporting restrictions which prevent us publishing the names of the 16 and 17-year-old, but this was rejected by Judge Parry.

Their identities will remain anonymous until they each turn 18.