Two men jailed for their part in a vicious attack on a teenager in Ellesmere Port

Two men have been jailed for their part in a violent attack on a teenager in Ellesmere Port.

Thomas Byrne, 32, from HMP Berwyn, pleaded guilty to assisting an offender at an earlier hearing.

Joseph Farrell, 22, of HMP Altcourse, had already pleaded guilty to section 18 assault, possession of a weapon in a public place, driving without a licence, driving without insurance, and handling stolen goods at an earlier hearing.

He was dealt with by way of a fine for the driving offences on his first appearance.

Both appeared at Chester Crown Court on Wednesday 8 November to be sentenced.

Farrell was sentenced to six years in prison, with an extra three on licence, while Byrne was sentenced to 16 months in prison.

Farrell and two others, all wearing balaclavas, came over from the Wirral and carried out the ‘punishment attack’ on the 18-year-old man in Worcester Walk in Ellesmere Port on Thursday 14 July 2022.

They chased him in their vehicle and collided with him, knocking him off his bike. The victim tried to run off and the men got out of the car and ran after him, pulling him to the floor and meting out their violence. They then drove away at speed leaving him slumped against a fence and bleeding heavily. A passer-by flagged down a passing police officer and the victim was subsequently taken to hospital in a serious condition.

DI Eli Atkinson said:

“This brazen attack took place in broad daylight and his injuries were so severe he required emergency surgery to his limbs as tendons had been severed. Sadly, the long-term outlook for the victim is that he is likely to suffer from a reduced range of motion to his limbs.

“My team of detectives worked tirelessly to find those responsible for this shocking attack and we carried out a number of raids on addresses in the Wirral, as we followed the evidence to Farrell and Byrne. I’d like to thank the team for their dedication and tenacity which has resulted in two men being jailed for their part in this abhorrent act of violence.”