Wroughton school hammer attack verdict today (From The Wiltshire Gazette and Herald)

Wroughton school hammer attack verdict today

7:31am Friday 5th February 2010

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A Wroughton student who suffered brain damage in an allegedly racist hammer attack will learn the outcome of his battle for compensation today.

Henry Webster was 15 when he was repeatedly punched, kicked and hit with the sharp end of a claw hammer by a gang of Asian pupils at Ridgeway School in Wroughton, in January 2007.

Thirteen teenagers, and a man who did not attend the 1,400-pupil school, were later convicted for their parts in the assault.

At London's High Court in October last year, Mr Webster, now 18, claimed there was a negligent failure by the school, which denies liability, to maintain proper discipline and deal with racial tension.

His 14-year-old brother Joseph, mum Elizabeth, and stepfather Roger Durnford are also seeking compensation for the psychological damage caused by witnessing his injuries.

Mr Webster told Mr Justice Nicol that the Asian boys at the school did not integrate.

"The school didn't do anything to try and split them up but almost seemed to encourage them to stay together."

He added: "I saw them abusing and intimidating white pupils. They would hang around in the corridors and would intimidate people by speaking their own language, pointing and laughing. They would shoulder barge people and generally just try and cause arguments and fights around the school."

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