Teen’s secret torment at hands of torture gang

TORTURED . . . the victim’s horrific injuries

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AN Oldham schoolboy was subjected to a campaign of violence, abuse, intimidation and humiliation by five youths with whom he just wanted to be friends.

A trial jury at Manchester Crown Court was told how it began as bullying, but quickly escalated and ended with the 15-year old being effectively kidnapped and tortured.

The youngster was taken under threat to the home of one of his tormentors, where he was punched and kicked before being stripped and having his mouth, hands and feet taped.

His back and chest were cut with a knife and the raw wounds rubbed with salt and lemon to intensify the pain as his attackers openly laughed.

Robert Golinski, prosecuting, told the court the teenager was then “branded” up to eight times with a hot clothes iron on his back, left arm and right buttock, before allegedly being forced into a humiliating sex act.

After being ordered to use the bathroom to clean himself up, one of the group poured disinfectant on his wounds to again increase the suffering.

The court heard how the youngster remained silent about what had happened to him. He managed to hide the worst of his injuries from his family and it was only the following day, when teachers discovered how badly he had been hurt, that police were called.

He at first invented a story about being attacked by strangers, but then admitted what had gone on.

One of the five youths involved, pleads not guilty to false imprisonment, three counts of assault occasioning actual bodily harm, wounding with intent, unlawful wounding, blackmail, theft and causing the victim to engage in sexual activity without his consent.

The four others have entered guilty pleas to a number of charges in relation to the case. They will be sentenced following the conclusion of the trial.

The jury was told the campaign against the victim began early last year when the ringleader of the group of five — all under 18 — sold him a mobile phone.

Over the following months, up to £800 was extorted from the youth, who was constantly threatened, asked for more and more money and given deadlines to pay up.

He was even urged to steal his mother’s credit card and obtain the PIN number to give to the group.

On one occasion the youth was forced into an alley, stripped naked and photographed. Another time he was viciously beaten in an Oldham park after being stripped.

The jury has been told that there is no doubt the victim was assaulted and abused but they have to determine the involvement of the youth on trial.

The trial continues.