Vigilante Trio Jailed Over Brutal ‘Honey Trap’ Attack on Teen
Three young men from Hove have been locked up for a combined total of 81 months after luring a teenager into a violent robbery and assault. Balint Besze, 20, Theo Hallworth, 19, and Reuben Willard, 19, set a cruel honey trap that ended in a savage attack inside a derelict building.
Fake Allegation Sparks Revenge Plot
The whole ordeal started over a false allegation made against the victim by a woman. Private Instagram messages proved the claim was rubbish. This woman passed the lie to Balint Besze, who convinced Hallworth and Willard to take matters into their own hands.
Together, they formed a vigilante gang. Using one of their female friends as bait, they spent a week messaging the victim on social media. Eventually, she persuaded him to meet up at an abandoned car workshop on Newtown Road, Hove, on March 26, 2021.
Brutal Attack and Theft at Derelict Site
When the teen arrived, the trio sprang their trap. Wearing boiler suits and masks, they battered him with metal sticks. The victim suffered bruises to his back, shoulder, wrist, and forearm. They robbed him of his phone, wallet, passport, backpack, and even his shoes.
Left battered and shoeless, the victim managed to catch a bus to a friend’s house and alert the police. The woman who lured him in was arrested but later deemed unfit to stand trial due to mental health issues. Reporting restrictions prevent her being named.
Justice Served – Jail Time for Besze, Willard, and Hallworth
The three attackers were charged with robbery and false imprisonment. Despite admitting the crimes, they lied about using weapons. Their version was smashed at a Newton hearing. On February 15 at Lewes Crown Court, all three were sentenced to 27 months in a young offenders’ institution.
“These youths took it upon themselves to act as vigilantes in setting up a honey trap,” said investigating officer Rose Horan. “They had bright futures but now face prison for what is probably the biggest mistake of their lives. The whole plot was ill conceived from the start.”
“The victim was, and remains, absolutely traumatised by this incident. He has shown great patience and maturity throughout the investigation.”
