A 16-year-old boy has admitted to throwing stones at a man who died after a savage beach attack in Kent. The victim, accused of being a paedophile, was chased down and battered with rocks and a bottle before being found face down in the mud.
Attack Sparked by Fake Texts and Misinformation
Prosecutors laid bare the chilling events in court. The teenager confessed to hitting the man after receiving messages that made him believe the victim had sinister intentions. The boy met the victim, Mr Cashford, after the victim was given a girl’s phone number at an amusement arcade on August 8.
Using a fake name, “Sienna,” a girl and two accomplices traded texts with Mr Cashford and arranged a meeting near the sea wall on August 10. This sparked the deadly confrontation.
Bottle Blows and Stone Attacks Caught on Camera
Court footage showed the 16-year-old smash a beer bottle on Mr Cashford’s head — the bottle didn’t even break on impact — before trying to strike him again. The boy admitted to wanting to injure him but claimed he didn’t expect serious harm.
“I saw the bottle and I picked it up. I wasn’t really sure what was going through my head,” he told jurors.
After the assault, the attackers fled. One female accomplice filmed the attack on the boy’s phone, yelling, “F****** paedophile. I’m f****** 16.”
Victim’s Injuries Were Horrific and Fatal
A post-mortem revealed Mr Cashford suffered multiple injuries — bruised face, broken ribs puncturing a lung, and head trauma. Despite the vicious assault, all three deny murder charges. The 16-year-old boy pleaded guilty to manslaughter, while the girl and a 15-year-old boy deny all allegations.
Teen Says He Felt Police Would Have Ignored Him
Under questioning, the boy said he took screenshots of the messages to prove he was trying to meet the girl. When asked if he believed attacking the man was right, he replied, “Yeah, kind of, yeah.”
He claimed he thought police “wouldn’t have done anything” if he reported the man and wanted authorities to “lock him up.”
Trial Still Ongoing
The hearing continues as all defendants deny murder. The shocking violence and murky motives behind the attack remain under intense scrutiny in court.
