A TRAINEE manager involved in a late night drunken street attack has been punished with 18 months in custody. Wesley Bartlett was sentenced alone for the affray in Stevenage town centre although CCTV footage showed that he was far less involved than three

A TRAINEE manager involved in a late night drunken street attack has been punished with 18 months in custody.

Wesley Bartlett was sentenced alone for the affray in Stevenage town centre although CCTV footage showed that he was far less involved than three or four others.

But he had refused to name them. A judge said had he had the courage to do so it would have demonstrated his remorse and gone in his favour.

Judge John Bevan QC said the video footage was "sickening" with four or five young men attacking one person. At one stage the victim was on the ground being stamped on.

He told Bartlett: "You kicked him once when he was standing and punched him a couple of times on the ground.

"What you did was bad enough but what others did was worse. But you were part of a joint enterprise. It was four or five against one, who was given a thorough beating without risk to yourselves.

"A custodial sentence is inevitable because it has to be demonstrated that this behaviour is wholly unacceptable."

Bartlett, 19, of Haycroft Road, Stevenage, pleaded guilty at Luton Crown Court last Thursday to a charge of affray.

Michael Greenslade, prosecuting, said the attack happened on December 23, 2004 at 2am near a chicken take-away shop.

Police were alerted by a CCTV operator who filmed the assault lasting a couple of minutes.

The victim, who pointed out Bartlett as one of his attackers, did not want to make a police statement or receive hospital treatment. He has since disappeared, the court was told.

Bartlett was arrested and made some admissions in interview but denied kicking the man. However the CCTV film showed him delivering a waist high kick when the victim was getting up from the ground after having been stamped on.

Raj Shetty, defending, said: "It was a terrible incident and very unpalatable viewing. In a moment of madness in some kind of mob mentality he decided to get involved. It was the worse decision of his life.

"He now does not go clubbing and goes home after a few pints on a Saturday night. He no longer associates with those on the video, and has not been in trouble during the year since this offence.

"This is a plea of mercy. He has a good job as a trainee manager with Currys and has otherwise been doing well in life, but for this stupid error of judgement."

Bartlett was given 18 months in a young offenders' institute.