Evil teenager tortured man for his benefits
AARON TEASDALE … tortured a disabled man for his benefits.
By KARON KELLY
EVIL Aaron Teasdale is behind bars today after torturing a victim with learning difficulties.
Teasdale, 19, was locked up indefinitely after he and a 17-year-old female accomplice – who cannot be named for legal reasons – left the man in intensive care after being beaten, burnt and repeatedly shot in the head with a BB gun.
The 36-year-old victim, who also had epilepsy, suffered at least 20 wounds to his head and face from the ball bearing shooter, was burnt with a cigarette lighter, cut with a piece of broken mirror, hit with a spindle of wood, kicked and punched at the South Shields guest home where he and Teasdale lived.
He suffered a brain haemorrhage, multiple wounds to his scalp, had blood clots travelling to his lungs as well as extensive bruising and wounds across his body.
The victim was lucky to survive the attack and spent almost three weeks in hospital, some of which was intensive care.
A Newcastle Crown Court judge told Teasdale, of no fixed address, he could see him killing someone if he continued to behave as he did.
Teasdale and the 17-year-old both admitted causing grievous bodily harm with intent. She was given four-and-a-half years detention.
Teasdale was told he must serve four years before he can apply for parole.
The court heard that the victim, who cannot be named due to his vulnerable state, had just been paid his benefits when the pair targeted him last November.
Prosecutors claimed a determination to get hold of his money could be what sparked the violence.
Judge Milford said the attack was “sustained”.
He added: “He was found by the manager in his room and taken to hospital where he was admitted in a semi conscious state.
“He had suffered a subdural haemorrhage and multiple lacerations to his scalp, extensive bruising to his face, forehead and other parts of his body, wounds to his legs, deep vein thrombosis where blood clots were travelling to his lungs from wounds to his leg, a fractured rib, a burn to his left upper arm.
“A pellet was recovered from one of his ears.
“On a conservative count there are no fewer than 20 discrete circular injuries to his head and face which must have been caused by the BB gun.
“The victim could easily have died from an injury in an attack as brutal as this.”
The court heard Teasdale has a history of “disturbed” behaviour, has violent fantasies about those who have wronged him and claimed he felt “powerful” as he walked away after the attack.
Judge Milford told him: “In my view you should not be released until the Parole Board deem you safe to release.”
The judge said the teenage girl, who has no previous convictions, is not to be categorised as a dangerous offender.
The court heard both attackers have a troubled and difficult past.
Speaking after the case, Northumbria Police Det Insp Gareth Craig said: “This was an incredibly malicious and unprovoked attack.
“The sentences handed down by the courts reflect the extremely serious nature of the incident.”
