Teenagers in court for ‘vicious’ Prom attack

Robbie Beveridge and Tommy Slater launched an unprovoked attack on the man, knocking him to the ground, before kicking and punching him in the head.

The attack took place after Beveridge caused a fracas at the resort’s Craig-Y-Don hotel, and spat in a night porter’s face.

Beveridge, 18, of Lytham Road, South Shore, pleaded guilty to two assaults, threatening behaviour and causing damage.

Slater, also 18, of Abbeyville, South Shore, admitted one offence of assault.

Beveridge was sentenced to 22 weeks in prison, suspended for 12 months, ordered to do 200 hours unpaid work for the community, and put on one year’s supervision by Blackpool magistrates.

He was also ordered to pay compensation of £100 to his victim on the Prom, £50 to the night porter, £100 for a damaged hotel banister and costs of £300.

Slater was sentenced to do 135 hours’ unpaid work for the community, put on 12 months’ supervision and ordered to pay £50 compensation to his victim, plus £300 costs with £60 victims’ surcharge.

Pam Smith, prosecuting, said Beveridge was asked to leave the Craig-Y-Don hotel on September 18 as he was not staying there.

He shouted, was abusive and threw a chair, which damaged one of the hotel’s outside banisters. He also spat in the face of a night porter.

After this, both defendants launched an unprovoked attack on a man walking on the Promenade.

In a personal statement, the victim on the Promenade said he had had to spend the night in hospital with concussion. He was frightened to go out alone, never went out at night and had to take medication for panic attacks. He described the defendants as “taking away his lifestyle”.

Suzanne Mugford, defending Beveridge, said he had little recollection of what happened as he had drunk a lot of alcohol.

Robert Castle, defending Slater, said his client, who had no previous convictions, accepted his behaviour was reprehensible.