Three Teenagers Jailed for Manslaughter of Alexander Cashford on Kent Beach in August 2025
A 16-year-old girl, a 15-year-old boy, and another 16-year-old boy were sentenced at the Old Bailey. The girl and the older boy each received seven years in custody, while the younger boy was sentenced to five years. The 16-year-old boy had previously pleaded guilty, with the other two convicted after a trial.
Premeditated Attack and Motive
The court heard that the teenagers lured Mr Cashford to the beach after he gave his phone number to the girl at an arcade two days prior. Justice Cheema-Grubb criticised the defendants, stating, "All he did was give a business card. He did not touch you. You could have thrown it away." Prosecutors detailed that Mr Cashford was chased and attacked with rocks and a bottle, sustaining over 30 external injuries before being found face down in the mud.
Natalie Smith, from the Crown Prosecution Service, described the incident as a "carefully pre-planned deliberate and violent attack on someone... who could not defend himself." She added that witnesses reported the teens appearing to be "gloating" after the assault. The girl notably videoed the attack and was heard shouting "paedophile" at Mr Cashford, despite defence claims of her "polite, caring, compassionate" character.
Defence Arguments and Victim's History
Danny Robinson KC, defending the girl, suggested the initial text exchanges were a "laugh" that escalated into a "childish escapade that got out of hand." The 16-year-old boy, who has ADHD and is autistic, claimed they had discussed giving Mr Cashford a "slap" and believed police "wouldn't have done anything" if they had reported him. Benjamin Newton KC highlighted the younger boy's "minor role," noting he was unarmed and not involved in throwing missiles.
The court also heard that Mr Cashford had previous convictions, including stalking a young woman in Gillingham in 2025. Despite this, his parents expressed being "crushed" by the "cruel, unnecessary and pointless" killing of their "kind, friendly and compassionate" son. Det Sgt Alastair Worton commented that the "devastating outcome of the offenders' brutal actions that day has left a family grieving and young lives changed forever."
