Teen 'gentle giant' kicked and punched in attack

A TEENAGE 'gentle giant' was subjected to a vicious unprovoked attack in broad daylight as he walked home from buying his mother a birthday card, a jury has heard.

Exeter Crown Court heard the 16-year-old was first punched in the face and then repeatedly punched and kicked by two young men who left him bleeding and bruised as they ran off.

It is claimed one of them was Harry Garrod, 20, of Knights Mead, Chudleigh Knighton, who has pleaded not guilty to an assault charge.

Prosecutor Lee Bremridge said the victim, who was at Exeter College, was tall for his age at over six feet and was known as a 'gentle giant'.

He was walking home past the Anchor Inn at Chudleigh one afternoon last September having been to the shops to buy his mother a card.

The court was told Mark Allen and Garrod both of whom had been drinking shouted at him 'stop, stop' and when the teenager did so one of the pair asked him: 'why did you look at me like that?'

"He was then punched directly in the face and what followed was an unprovoked assault during which the victim ran away but was chased and caught by his attackers," said Mr Bremridge.

"One of them then punched him again and the other joined in repeatedly punching and kicking him."

The prosecutor said after the attackers had run off, and although bleeding from his facial injuries he managed to get home and tell his mother what had happened. He was taken by ambulance to hospital in Exeter where he was treated for facial cuts, a nasty lip injury, bruising and a suspected broken nose.

Mr Bremridge said the victim was able to identify one of his attackers who he thought was a friend of his cousin. That led the police to arresting Allen and Garrod soon after. Allen had later pleaded guilty to assault occasioning actual bodily harm for his part in the incident.

When Garrod was interviewed by police he said that Allen had become involved in a fight and had asked him to help him out. He said he went over to pull Allen away and had just pushed the teenager who had fallen to the ground. He denied that he was part of any attack on the victim.

Garrod has pleaded not guilty to the assault charge and the trial continues.