Disgusted

Three teenagers were given the orders for their part in taunting Abraham Cookson, 78, who then suffered a fatal heart attack.

Mr Cookson, died shortly after he confronted two groups of youths who were causing a disturbance outside flats in Cavendish Court, Eccleshill, Bradford, a year ago.

At the city's youth court two 16-year-olds were cleared of using threatening behaviour but convicted of disorderly conduct.

For the next eight weeks they will have to wear electronic tags and be inside their homes between 8pm and 6am every day.

A 17-year-old, who admitted disorderly conduct, was given a six-week curfew order. All three youths were also ordered to pay £100 costs.

Imposing the sentences, bench chairman Peter Berry said it had been a disgraceful, selfish and reckless incident in which a "pack" of youths had selfishly caused a row in a peaceful neighbourhood.

The old man had "bravely and politely'" asked them to stop, but they took no notice and when he tried to admonish them they were "goading and baiting him, somewhat like an animal.''

Mr Berry said: "All that, we feel, is despicable.''

But the sentence was condemned for sending out the wrong message by the Reverend Stephen Treasure, who was vicar of Eccleshill at the time of the incident.

"I have great sympathy with the concerns of the residents and knowing the area as I do that kind of sentence sends out all the wrong message to young people who will think they can get away with what is a very serious and distressing crime," he said.

"While it's possible the man may not have died and it was probably not the youths intention, this kind of thing is very distressing to old people and often causes them to move home because of it. It's sends out a very mild rebuke."

One close neighbour of Mr Cookson, who did not want to be named for fears of reprisals said: "They deserve a lot more. I think the people round here will feel disgusted."

Eccleshill Councillor Susanne Rooney said: "I am always horrified at the way some young people speak and behave to our more senior members of society.

"It makes me wonder how we as a society are bringing up our children."

During the trial of the two 16-year-olds, the prosecution alleged that the incident began with some banging on windows and messing about with motor vehicles in a public area adjacent to the flats.

The disturbance was such that people looked out of their windows to see what was going on.

When Mr Cookson took it on himself to go out and ask the young men to leave, he was goaded and verbally abused.

The defendants denied acting in a threatening way or abusing the old man. Their solicitors claimed the only identification of them had come from a witness whose evidence was flawed and tainted.

Another 16-year-old has admitted common assault on Mr Cookson and will be dealt with later this month after a pre-sentence report has been prepared.

A 15-year-old and another 16-year-old have been bound over for a year for their part in the incident.

None of the youths can be identified, for legal reasons.

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