Three youths sentenced for attack on lad at Westgate railway station

THREE people have been sentenced after an attack at Westgate-on-Sea rail station left a man with punctured lungs.

Perry Morris, 18, Danny Gray, 17, and Jacey Daly, 18, appeared at Canterbury Crown Court today following an investigation by British Transport Police (BTP).

Morris, of Prince Andrew Road, St Peter's, was sentenced to three years in prison after admitting inflicting grievous bodily harm.

Gray, of Gordon Road, Broadstairs, received a two-year community youth and rehabilitation order and given 100 hours of unpaid work.

Business Cards From Only £10.95 Delivered www.myprint-247.co.uk

myprint-247

View details

Print voucher

Our heavyweight cards have FREE UV silk coating, FREE next day delivery & VAT included. Choose from 1000's of pre-designed templates or upload your own artwork. Orders dispatched within 24hrs.

Terms: Visit our site for more products: Business Cards, Compliment Slips, Letterheads, Leaflets, Postcards, Posters & much more. All items are free next day delivery. www.myprint-247.co.uk

Contact: 01858 468192

Valid until: Sunday, May 26 2013

 Daly, of Orgarswick Avenue, Dymchurch, was also given a two-year community youth and rehabilitation order.

 Both had admitted causing actual bodily harm. The incident took place around 4.30pm on Monday, 27 June 2011 after the victim, from Erith, south east London, had stopped to chat to a friend, who was accompanied by Morris, Gray, Daly and one other person.

 A row blew up between Morris and the 20-year-old victim on one of the platforms before Gray, believing Morris was about to be assaulted, punched the victim to the floor.

The victim got up and struggled with Gray but was assaulted by Morris and Daly, with the fight lasting a few seconds. Morris, Gray and Daly then left the station and the victim's friend pointed out that he was now bleeding from wounds to his back. The victim tried bathing his injuries at his friend's house nearby but an ambulance was called a short while later when he began having trouble breathing. He then spent nine days in Margate's Queen Elizabeth Queen Mother Hospital for treatment for three puncture wounds to his back, which had punctured both lungs.

BTP officers arrested Morris, Gray and Daly a few days later on 1 July.

Detective Constable Steve Best, one of the investigating officers, said: "Morris eventually admitted to stabbing the victim in the back with a potato peeler which penetrated his lungs and left the victim bleeding and struggling to breathe.

"Incidents like this are fortunately rare on the rail network but we treat them very seriously. We welcome the sentences handed down and hope they send out a clear message that if you choose to carry a weapon and use it, it will not be tolerated by the police service, community, or the courts."

Sentencing the trio today at Canterbury Crown Court, Judge Adele Williams said: "You had all been drinking, Morris started the argument, Gray struck the victim, there was a struggle and then Daly struck him. Morris then stabbed him three times with a potato peeler.

 "These were serious injuries that caused the victim's lungs to collapse. "It was a repeated attack with a weapon, under the influence of alcohol."

She went on to comment that Gray and Daly were unaware that Morris had been carrying a weapon, and that both had shown appropriate remorse for what had happened.

Speaking after sentencing through a statement issued by BTP, Christine Dawson, mother of the victim, said: "The last 18 months since the incident took place have been very long and difficult for my son and our whole family.

 "We're relieved that this has now been dealt with by the courts because it will allow us to try and move on together as a family and put this behind us."