Pair jailed for Durrington beard fire attack

Aedan Palmer, 19, of Tower Road, Lancing, was sentenced to 16 months in a young offenders' institution when he was sentenced today at Chichester Crown Court.

The attack last December burned Luke Kennedy's face and lips and disfigured his ears while he was travelling on a train service from Brighton to Littlehampton, as it approached Durrington station.

His accomplice in the 'silly joke that went wrong', Dean Hardy, 20, from Crawley, who laughed as he watched Palmer light Mr Kennedy's beard, was sent to a young offender's institution for two years.

Palmer pleaded guilty to inflicting grievous bodily harm on Mr Kennedy, 22, while co-defendant Hardy, of Grace Road, Crawley, was found guilty of the same offence on November 5, after a trial at Chichester Crown Court.

Mr Kennedy said he was 'pleased with the result' after the pair were given their sentences from Judge Claudia Ackner.

Judge Ackner said "right-thinking people" would be "appalled at the callous and cowardly" actions of Palmer and Hardy.

She said: "Your behaviour on December 7 defies belief. You were travelling on public transport, which, unfortunately, all too often is subsequent to intimidating and brash behaviour from people like you.

"You two went far beyond that. Mr Kennedy was misfortunate to be deeply asleep when you boarded the train.

"You noticed him immediately and verbally abused him. You shouted at him to wake him up and pretended to open your beer bottle caps by using the buckle on his boots.

"You picked on him because he was a soft target and used him as a source of amusement."

Judge Ackner went on to explain that Mr Kennedy was traumatised by the attack and can no longer grow a beard on parts of his face.

Judge Ackner added: "You both knew after you left the train just how serious your actions were. That's why you returned to Lancing. This case clearly demonstrates the importance for the use of CCTV images on station platforms and on train carriages."

The court heard how Hardy has had five convictions for violence in the past. In June 2008, he was convicted for causing actual bodily harm to a man on board a train service from Brighton as part of large group attack.

He was given a community order and curfew for three months and had to carry out unpaid work for 200 hours. He was also given a 100 fine and had to pay 200 in compensation.

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