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Victim of sadistic attack lost his job and home
A SADISTIC schoolboy battered a Scarborough construction worker so severely the victim was thrown out of his home because he lost his job and was unable to pay the mortgage, a court heard.
The 15-year-old thug, who cannot be named, will serve just 15 months for his role in the horror attack.
He and an accomplice continued to repeatedly hit William Rowley, 46, of Broadway, Northstead, around the head with a length of wood even after he had handed over his mobile and 100 cash.
Mr Rowley, who was self-employed and working on the Olympic site in Stratford, London, at the time, lost the hearing in his left ear and now suffers balance problems.
As he was ineligible for sick pay, Mr Rowley was unable to pay his mortgage and lost his home, Snaresbrook Crown Court heard.
The teenage mugger, from Ilford, Essex, and his accomplice, also 15, left Mr Rowley for dead before passer-by Herve Ekule dialled 999.
"We've made a fortune," the robbers bragged before fleeing.
Prosecutor Graeme Ford said Mr Ekule saw the teenagers mercilessly batter Mr Rowley in the early hours of June 21 last year.
He told the court: "He recalls the sound of wood against the head. Mr Akule describes Mr Rowley crawling along the floor. He said he must have been hit about 10 times in total."
Mr Akule rushed to Mr Rowley's aid and called for an ambulance.
"I think the beating would have been worse if someone had not been there," said Mr Ford. "They looked as if they were enjoying it."
Mr Rowley suffered two skull fractures and lost the hearing in his left ear, said Mr Ford.
"He was a self-employed construction worker working many hours on the Stratford site," added the barrister.
In a statement, Mr Rowley described his injuries and added: "I was unable to pay the mortgage on the home I own and I am afraid the home was repossessed."
Judge John Platt sentenced the 15-year-old to four years in a young offenders' institution, but he will serve just 15 months because of a combination of time spent on remand and an early release scheme.
The other teenager, who is being held at Goodmayes Hospital, did not appear in court after he was judged mentally unfit to plead.
Describing the attack on Mr Rowley, the judge told the youth in court: "You left your victim in effect for dead."
Five days earlier the duo had also robbed Nabeel Saeed, 29, before also attacking him with planks after he gave them his phone and cash.
Mr Saeed asked the yobs why they hit him and the thug replied: "Just for fun.'"
The teenager in court had a string of convictions including theft and criminal damage, said prosecutors.
The Ilford teenager admitted two counts of robbery, grievous bodily harm with intent and actual bodily harm.
His accomplice, who was unfit to plead, was accused of two counts of robbery and grievous bodily harm.
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Weather for Scarborough
Thursday 24 May 2012
Today
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Temperature: 11 C to 18 C
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Wind direction: North east
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