Three teenagers have been sentenced for the manslaughter of Alexander Cashford, a 49-year-old man, whom they mistakenly believed to be a paedophile.
The incident occurred on August 10, 2022, at Leysdown-on-Sea, where the trio lured Cashford to a beach before launching an attack with rocks and a bottle.
A 16-year-old girl and a 16-year-old boy were each handed seven-year custodial sentences, while a 15-year-old boy received a five-year term at the Old Bailey today.
Initially charged with murder, all three were acquitted and instead found guilty of manslaughter.
During the sentencing, Mrs. Justice Cheema-Grubb acknowledged that the situation began as harmless “mischief” among teenagers but escalated into “dangerous misconduct” that ultimately resulted in a man’s death.
The court heard that Mr. Cashford had met the girl at an amusement arcade on August 8, where he provided her with his contact number and a business card bearing an alias.
Under the name Sienna, the teenagers communicated with him and arranged to meet by the sea wall.
Danny Robinson KC, representing the girl, described the initial text exchanges as a “big laugh” that morphed into an intention to expose Mr. Cashford.
He emphasized that the attack was not premeditated and was rather a reckless act that spiraled out of control.
Mr. Cashford met the female defendant around 7 PM on the day of the incident, and within an hour, he was found deceased, face down in mud.
Prosecutors detailed that he was chased and struck with various objects, sustaining severe injuries including facial trauma, bruises, and fractured ribs that punctured his lung.
During the trial, both the girl and the younger male defendant insisted there was no intention to harm Mr. Cashford.
At today’s sentencing, Robinson stated that the girl has reflected on her actions and is genuinely remorseful.
For the 15-year-old defendant, barrister Benjamin Newton KC, requested an intense supervision order instead of youth detention, arguing that the boy played a minor role in the events and did not arm himself when he had the chance. He noted that the risk of reoffending is low.
A statement from Mr. Cashford’s parents, David and Linda, was read in court, describing their son as a “kind, friendly and compassionate person” who had a passion for local wildlife and sports.
They expressed feeling “emotionally crushed” by the loss and conveyed that the impact on their family is “practically impossible to put into words.”
They also lamented the slander against their son’s character, asserting it could not be further from the truth.
By: Madeline Moore