Two men sentenced over assault in Bexhill

30/07/2012

Two men, found guilty of perverting the course of justice over an assault in Bexhill that caused the victim life changing injuries, have been sentenced.

In an unprovoked attack, Ashley Dacosta punched his 15 year old victim, Mo Bourner, leaving him with serious injuries that will mean he will never lead a normal life.

The assault took place when the victim was walking home following a bonfire party along the town's seafront in late October 2011. Dacosta eventually pleaded guilty to a charge of racially aggravated grievous bodily harm. After he was originally charged, he was remanded into custody at Lewes Prison. He was told that any phone calls he made would be recorded.

Jack Carrick, a close friend of Dacosta's, was interviewed by police about what had happened on that night. Prior to the interview, he and Dacosta had already discussed the case and what should be said to the police.

In the recorded phone conversations, Carrick was heard giving a detailed description to Dacosta about the story he had come up with for another of Dacosta's friends. This highlighted how Dacosta had feared being attacked at the time he threw the punch, supporting the theory that Dacosta had acted in self defence.

Both men were found guilty, following a trial at Lewes Crown Court, of perverting the course of justice, with Carrick found guilty of two charges, while Dacosta was found guilty of one charge.

Dacosta was today (Monday 30 July) given a four and a half year sentence in a young offenders institution for the racially aggravated grievous bodily harm and he was also ordered to serve an additional 18 months for perverting the course of justice. Carrick was sentenced to 18 months for the first charge of perverting the course of justice and two years for the second to run concurrently.

Libby Clark, Acting Senior District Crown Prosecutor for CPS South East, said: "The unprovoked assault left the young victim with exceptionally serious injuries, which have utterly changed his life. Although Dacosta eventually pleaded guilty to the racially aggravated assault charge, prior to that, he and Carrick made every effort to try and ensure that justice was not done.

"The recorded phone calls revealed the lengths that Dacosta was prepared to go to try and influence the evidence that had been gathered against him, with Carrick prepared to support his friend. The evidence showed how racism was a part of everyday conversation for Dacosta."