Feral gang sent down by judge

as he jailed them for a series of brutal attacks on innocent people.

Most of the victims of the out-of-control drunken mob were servicemen visiting the North Yorkshire market town of Thirsk.

One man is now afraid to leave his home and needs counselling after being assaulted when he complained about a late-night party.

Judge Peter Bowers yesterday passed custodial sentences totalling eight years after telling the young yobs: “You are a disgrace.”

Teesside Crown Court heard how the frightening campaign of indiscriminate violence was waged by the gang during 2009.

In one case, all four acted together, while in the other incidents they were in pairs or in larger groups, said prosecutor Victoria Lamballe.

Defence lawyers said the louts – all in their teens at the time – had since matured, stopped drinking and avoided bad influences.

Judge Bowers said he accepted that a lot of water had passed under the bridge in two years, but said: “It’s all too little, too late.”

He said: “It is clear during 2009, individually and sometimes collectively, you ran around like a pack of feral animals.

You were uncontrolled, drunk, loutish, and prepared to take on any of the locals or soldiers who happened to be visiting Thirsk. It seems to me the only way to send a clear message out to other louts prepared to behave in this way is to send you all away.”

Kenny-Lee Wilson, now 21, was jailed for three years, while Daniel Dodsworth, 20, and Jamie Marsden, 19, were each jailed for two years.

Richard Clark, 17, was given a 12-month sentence. The judge lifted an order which banned the media from identifying him, but his picture was not released by North Yorkshire Police. He said: “I take the view that this sort of violence should be reported and see no reason why a 17-yearold should not be named.”

The court heard how all four have convictions for offences of violence and public disorder.

In February 2009, Wilson was involved in a fracas near a town centre pub in which serviceman Liam Henderson, 20, was stabbed.

It was said Wilson was armed with a machete and told the victim’s friend as he tried to calm the trouble: “F*** off, I will slit you.”

Wilson claimed he was not the knifeman, and was cleared of unlawful wounding after a trial last year, but convicted of affray.

While he was on bail for the offence, he was involved in an incident in May 2009 in which another man was said to have been assaulted.

The alleged victim refused to co-operate with police and Wilson pleaded guilty to a public order offence.

Three months later, Marsden and Dodsworth attacked a householder who complained about loud music late at night.

Stephen Rose, 48, was punched and kicked unconscious, lost teeth and has had to give up his business as a result of the trauma.

In November that year, all four men were involved in assaults on soldiers Sean Reeves, 23, and Christopher Leyland, 18. Clark started the trouble with Mr Reeves before the others punched Mr Leyland and dragged him to the ground, said Miss Lamballe.

Mr Leyland was bitten on the nose and kicked and stamped on by other – unnamed – people.

Wilson, of Kirkgate, Thirsk, admitted one charge of affray, was found guilty of a second charge, and pleaded guilty to threatening behaviour.

Joanne Kidd, mitigating, said his last offence of violence was in December 2009 and urged the judge to impose a suspended sentence.

Dodsworth, of Morby Estate, Morby, and Marsden, of Admirals Court, both Thirsk, admitted two charges of affray.

David Comb, for Dodsworth, said a recent prison sentence had taught him a lesson and he was determined to stay out of trouble.

Joan Smith, for Marsden, said he – like Dosdworth – had since got a job, and was sorry for the injuries he had caused people.

Clark, formerly of Thirsk, now of Ousegate, Selby, admitted his part in the November affray. His barrister, Adrian Dent, accepted Clark had to be locked up because he had breached so many non-custodial sentences in the past.