Teen posed as girlfriend on Snapchat to lure rival to Clifton Park for "appalling" attack
He lured his victim to a secluded place
A teenager posed as his girlfriend on Snapchat to lure a rival to a park to attack him.
Sheffield Crown Court heard how the attack in Clifton Park, Rotherhan, was just one in a catalogue of offences committed by Leif Atherton.
In another, armed with a machete, he terrorised a mother and daughter at their own home.
Atherton was also brought before the court to be sentenced for a dangerous chase, in which he drove a scooter on the wrong side of the road and crashed into a police vehicle.
Prior to the park attack, Atherton messaged his victim over Snapchat using an account belonging to his then-girlfriend and “purported to be her.”
Prosecutor Mark Thomas said Atherton arranged to meet his victim at Clifton Park.
He said the then 19-year-old intentionally “lured his victim to a secluded place.”
“The defendant appeared from a tree, and began verbally abusing him,” Mr Thomas said.
“The defendant punched him to the face; a second, unknown male pulled him to the floor.”
The victim was punched and kicked on the ground.
Jailing him for 27 months over the attack and “litany” of other offences, Judge Peter Hampton said Atherton had a “leading role” in the Clifton Park incident, which he described as an “appalling use of unlawful violence.”
After being arrested over the Clifton Park incident, Atherton went on to terrorise a mother and daughter at their Rawmarsh home.
Doorbell footage showed him “carrying a machete” and throwing a paving slab at the property.
The defendant damaged a car in the incident.
In statements provided to police, the mother and daughter said the incident had caused them to feel “anxious,” “petrified” and “sick to their stomach.”
Atherton, formerly of The Lanes, East Dene, Rotherham, was arrested over the incident and was on police bail for offences of affray and assault occasioning actual bodily harm arising out of it when he committed the driving offences.
Mr Thomas said police officers spotted Atherton driving through Maltby on a scooter without its lights on.
Instead of stopping for the officers as requested, Atherton drove off at up to 50 miles per hour in a 30 zone, before travelling on the wrong side of the road, failing to stop at a give way line and driving through traffic lights.
Atherton came to a stop after crashing into a police vehicle.
He tested positive for both cannabis and cocaine.
Atherton, now aged 22, pleaded guilty to a string of offences including assault occasioning actual bodily harm, affray, possession of cannabis and dangerous driving.
He wass subject to a community order for separate drug matters when he committed some of the offences.
Defending, Francis Edusei referred Judge Hampton to a psychiatric report prepared on Atherton’s behalf, detailing conditions including attention deficit hyperactivity post-traumatic stress disorder.
He said Atherton had endured a “difficult start to life” and from the age of 18 found himself “sofa surfing.”
Sending Atherton to begin a prison sentence and banning him from driving for 34 months, Judge Hampton said he was “not unsympathetic” to the difficulties Atherton had experienced in his life.
But Atherton’s offending was so serious that only an immediate custodial sentence could be justified, he said.
“I wish you well in keeping out of trouble in the future,” Judge Hampton told Atherton.