Teenager left Asian scarred for life with craft knife

Leeds Crown Court heard the attack by Melvin Watts followed a number of previous incidents which included a relative of his dying after being punched in the street in Dewsbury by an Asian male.

Following a Facebook message to go hunting for Muslims by one of his friends, Watts and three others went out partly in revenge because two of the others said they too had previously also been assaulted by Asians.

By chance they met two 16-year-olds returning from a shop, David Bradshaw prosecuting told the court yesterday. One of the attacking group, Jordan Williams, having picked up a wooden stick suddenly struck one of the youths on his left arm and shoulder with it, while Watts produced the knife and slashed at the other’s face.

Abdul Iqbal told the court in mitigation for Watts that he was related to Jack Carter, who was the victim of what was initially charged as a murder but later convicted as a manslaughter with the defendant responsible getting 21 months in jail. “That sentence was perceived rightly or wrongly to be unduly lenient.”

On the night Watts became involved he was persuaded to go out by the others to Thornhill Lees and expecting a fight took the knife for protection but accepted he was not acting in self-defence when he used it.

Robin Frieze, for Oakley, said he was unaware his friend had a knife and the incident went far beyond what was anticipated.

Watts, 19, of Mountain Road, Thornhill, Dewsbury, admitted wounding with intent and possessing an offensive weapon.

Williams, 18, of Partridge Crescent, Thornhill admitted unlawful wounding, racially aggravated assault and having a weapon was given 18 months in a young offender institution.

Dale Oakley, 21 of Thorn Avenue, Thornhill, who admitted unlawful wounding and racially aggravated assault was jailed for 18 months and Josh Foster, 18, who also admitted wounding and racially aggravated assault was given 15 months in a young offender institution.

Sentencing them Judge Colin Burn said he had heard about the previous incidents before their decision to go out that night looking for young males “in order to carry out some sort of revenge attack.”

“You four went out as a gang with a view to beating up any young Asian men you could find. Whether it is racial aggression or gang retaliation it is completely unacceptable in any civilised society.”

He said both their victims had been traumatised by their ordeal and the one slashed would bear a physical scar for the rest of his life and was extremely fortunate not to have had his eye damaged.