Teenagers 'planned deliberate attack' on man, 49, who was beaten to death with rocks after branding him a 'paedophile', court told
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A trio of teenagers allegedly planned a 'deliberate attack' on a man who was beaten to death with rocks after branding him a 'paedophile', a court has been told.
A 16-year-old girl and two boys, aged 15 and 16, are accused of murdering Alexander Cashford, 49, in Leysdown-on-Sea on the Isle of Sheppey, Kent on August 10 last year.
Mr Cashford had met the girl by chance at an arcade in the seaside resort on August 8, giving her his phone number on a business card, prosecutor Kate Blumgart KC told Woolwich Crown Court on Wednesday.
The 16-year-old boy saved it in his own phone as 'pedo' (sic) and over the next two days around 75 messages were exchanged, with Mr Cashford believing he was in contact with a 16-year-old girl named Sienna.
He claimed to be 30, asked her if she liked champagne and said he wanted to kiss her, with 'Sienna' then suggesting they meet at her parents' empty home and telling him to bring alcohol, the jury heard.
Mr Cashford met the 16-year-old girl by the sea wall in Leysdown-on-Sea at around 7pm on August 10 and just over an hour later he was pronounced dead, the court was told.
Ms Blumgart told the court: 'These three defendants did happen by chance to meet Mr Cashford. What happened thereafter, however, was not by chance.
'They were so outraged by his interest in "Sienna" that they deliberately planned to attack him.
Teenagers allegedly planned a deliberate attack on Alexander Cashford, pictured, who was beaten to death with rocks, after branding him a 'paedophile', a court has been told
Police search the area around Leysdown-on-Sea, Kent in the aftermath of the incident
'This was a joint attack with each of them playing a vital part.'
It is claimed the two boys followed Mr Cashford and the girl 'for a considerable distance' as they walked along the promenade in the village, before the 16-year-old boy hit him on the back of the head with a bottle.
Ms Blumgart said: 'He was later seen by witnesses throwing large rocks at Mr Cashford's already seemingly lifeless body and head.
'This at the tail end of a vicious onslaught.'
The girl allegedly shouted, 'f****** paedophile, I'm f****** 16, get him', as she filmed the attack, with witnesses describing the 16-year-old boy throwing rocks at Mr Cashford.
A video clip was shown to the jury of people shouting and two boys and a man running along a seafront path.
The girl showed 'unwavering enthusiasm for the venture' that could be heard in her 'shrieks' as she recorded the attack, the court was told.
The footage was 'undoubtedly planned to be evidence of their own successful hunt', Ms Blumgart added.
Mr Cashford was pronounced dead just over an hour after he had met with a 16-year-old girl on the seafront, the court heard (Pictured: Police at the scene on August 10, 2025)
Mr Cashford apparently met the girl by chance at an arcade in the seaside resort on August 8
After he was arrested, prosecutors say the 16-year-old boy shared footage of the attack with three people, adding the caption: 'f****** pedo (sic) up lol'
A post-mortem examination showed he had injuries to his face and head, bruises on his limbs and body, and a number of fractured ribs that had punctured his lung.
The 16-year-old girl and 15-year-old boy are related, the court heard. The three defendants, who are each charged with murder, cannot be named for legal reasons.
The teenagers each deny one count of murder and the trial continues on Thursday.
