UK: The Victim got Punched and Burned with Boiling Water All by Friends 17&18 Y.olds

Two youths who mercilessly tortured a teenager during a 'sadistic happy-slap' attack filmed on a mobile phone have been put behind bars indefinitely.

During a five-hour ordeal, Ross Lambert and Thomas Robinson, both 17, subjected their 18-year-old victim Karl O'Mara to 'acts of sadism' for their 'own enjoyment'.

They punched, kicked and poured boiling hot water over Mr O'Mara before taking shocking video clips on a mobile phone, the court heard. 

Sadism: Ross Lambert, left, and Thomas Robinson subjected 18-year-old Karl O'Mara to 'acts of sadism' for their 'own enjoyment'(victim not photographed)

There were audible gasps at Liverpool Crown Court as the footage was played, showing a visibly battered Mr O'Mara begging for mercy.

But instead of halting their 'chilling' attack, they ordered him to repeat humiliating and offensive remarks about himself and his heavily-pregnant mum before Lambert punched him to the ground. 

The horrific footage, some of which was filmed by a third youth, Gavin Moore, was discovered after Lambert and Robinson forced Mr O'Mara to an isolated field, where they further abused him before abandoning him.

  

Mr O'Mara had even texted his mum asking for help.

Judge David Aubrey QC said: 'Torture of this nature and degree cannot be tolerated in a civilised society.'

He said that while the attack was described by prosecutor Robert Jansen as a happy-slapping attack, it was 'nothing of the sort'.

He said: 'In my judgment, there were acts of sadism. You tormented this young man. You tortured him. You dominated him for about five hours.'

'There were acts of sadism.

'You tormented this young man. You tortured him. You dominated him for about five hours.

'In my judgement, it is clearly by pure good fortune he was not killed that night at the hands of each of you.'

- Judge David Aubrey QC

Judge Aubrey said he had 'no hesitation' in locking them up indefinitely for the public's protection.

Branding ringleader Lambert a 'very dangerous young man', the judge ordered him to serve a minimum of four years behind bars, while Robinson will serve at least three years and eight months. 

Mr Jansen told the court Mr O'Mara was friends with Robinson since primary school, but they had fallen out and, in the months before the attack, he had received threats on Facebook.

Two weeks before the October 23 assault, Mr O'Mara believed they had made up and was drinking at Robinson's Leasowe home.

But during the attack, Robinson told Mr O'Mara he planned the violence for two months.

In a video interview with police, he told how the pain was '10 out of 10' after boiling water was poured over his arms, back and bottom.

When he was eventually taken to Whiston Hospital he had a fractured eye socket, nose and jaw, as well as extensive burns. 

Judge Aubrey said: 'In my judgement, it is clearly by pure good fortune he was not killed that night at the hands of each of you.'

Lambert, of Burbo Way, Wallasey, and Robinson, of Raleigh Road, Leasowe, both pleaded guilty to wounding with intent, false imprisonment and kidnapping.

Moore, also of Raleigh Road, was sent to a young offenders' institute for a year after admitting assault occasioning actual bodily harm.

By DAILY MAIL REPORTER