The conviction of a 19-year-old man who kicked a pensioner in a river was described as “a joke” by ECHO readers.
Benjamin Bridgeman of Warrington admitted violently kicking the 74-year-old while standing by the river.
The 19-year-old then fled with a 16-year-old who had filmed the attack and cannot be named for legal reasons.
The video footage was later shared on Snapchat and shows Bridgeman kicking the pensioner in the back next to laughing emojis.
Two girls rescued the distressed pensioner from the water and formed a human chain to pull him out of the river.
Following the attack, Bridgeman turned himself in to police on April 28, saying he deeply regretted kicking the pensioner.
At an earlier court hearing, Bridgeman said, “Everyone makes mistakes”.
He added: “Of course I am very sorry and this shouldn’t be happening. I didn’t know he was 74 years old. “
On Thursday June 10th, Bridgeman was jailed for 10 weeks by a Warrington Magistrates Court judge and ordered to pay his victim £ 500 in compensation.
The boy who filmed the attack previously received a 12-month youth referral order and was asked to pay £ 500 in compensation.
Following the conviction, people posted on ECHO’s Facebook page criticizing what they believed to be a mild sentence against Bridgeman.
Eleanor Brookes wrote: “The judge said the attack was“ nauseating ”yet only gave him 10 weeks and a £ 500 fine. What an absolute joke of justice. He could have killed the poor man.
Louise Allen said: “10 weeks – so will be out in five. Absolute farce. “
John Burns said, “Well done to the two girls who helped him. He should have received a harsher sentence! It could easily have ended up a lot worse!
Hailey Rooney added, “The verdict is not harsh enough at all. Your families should also be very proud of the two young girls who helped the victim. “
Yvonne Dutton said, “Sorry, but the verdict is pathetic. He could have killed the man. He already has a criminal past. The summary ends.
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