Two men have been sentenced to a combined total of more than eleven years imprisonment after kidnapping and assaulting a 15-year-old boy in Portsmouth during a three-hour ordeal.
Paddy Cosgrave, aged 20, from Warren Avenue in Southsea, received six years and nine months in prison with an extended licence period of three years for kidnapping at Portsmouth Crown Court on Friday 13 June. Cosgrave also received a concurrent two-year sentence for assault occasioning actual bodily harm.
Charlie Aaron Johnson, aged 19, from Middle Park Way in Havant, was sentenced to four years and six months imprisonment for kidnapping, with an additional concurrent two-year term for assault occasioning actual bodily harm.
The Attack
The incident occurred on Saturday 2 November 2024 when the teenage victim was making his way to a sleepover with friends. At approximately 9:45pm on Somers Road in Portsmouth, the victim and his friends encountered Cosgrave and Johnson, who barged into the group.
The two men accused the teenager of barging into them before forcibly separating him from his friends and taking him against his will through various streets in the area. The ordeal lasted approximately three hours, during which the victim suffered repeated assaults and threats, resulting in significant facial swelling.
During the attack, Cosgrave and Johnson compelled the victim to visit a cash machine to withdraw money before stealing his bank card. The teenager was repeatedly threatened with death, slapped, punched in the stomach, kicked in the face, and head-butted. One of the attackers also made threats to sexually assault the young victim.
The pair subjected the victim to psychological torture through a “cat and mouse” game, forcing him to run before catching him and ordering him to stop. They stole his AirPods, smashed his mobile phone, and forced him to remove a chain from his neck, which was then used to whip him across the face. His shoes and coat were taken, with the shoes being discarded.
Escape and Medical Treatment
The victim was eventually told to flee near Milton Park and managed to reach a local kebab shop where he sought help. His family, who had been frantically searching for him, were contacted, and he was taken to hospital for treatment.
Medical examination revealed the teenager had sustained a broken nose, split lip, and extensive bruising. The severity of his injuries prevented him from eating or drinking for two days due to swelling.
Investigation and Arrest
CCTV footage and banking enquiries at a local shop led to the subsequent arrest and charging of both Cosgrave and Johnson.
Impact on the Victim
In detailed impact statements, the victim described the terror he experienced: “When I was forced around by the suspects I did not think I would make it home. They told me they would kill me multiple times. I was forced through back alleys that I had never been to before. I constantly thought I was going to get beaten, stripped and killed. Whilst beating me on the floor, Paddy was smiling. The look in both of their eyes scared me. I was constantly thinking ‘why me?’ and when will this stop. I used to be very happy-go-lucky and extroverted. Now I am introverted, scared and anxious.”
The victim’s parents described the devastating impact on their family: “Our child is one of the kindest natured children you could ever meet, who actively avoids conflict. No child should ever have to go through what these grown men put our son through that night. My husband and I were beyond frantic when we heard that our son wasn’t at his friend’s sleepover, where he was supposed to be that night.
In fact, he never made it there. Whilst we were searching around the city, these grown men were violently attacking our child. When our son was finally able to escape, after being held for around two-and-a-half hours, he ran barefoot – they had taken his shoes and coat – to the nearest open shop. The people there kept him safe until my husband picked him up. My husband and I worry about the impact that these two adults have had on my son’s life.”
- Portsmouth head stalked by ex who planted tracker in car
- Man charged after police seize drugs and £10,000 in Aldershot
Police Response
Detective Constable Amy Thatcher, the investigating officer, commented: “This was a horrendously frightening and traumatic incident for the victim, and I hope to the bottom of my heart that these sentences offer some comfort to the victim and his family.
No-one should be subjected to intimidation and violence like this. I am told that after hearing what had happened at court, the defendants’ relatives expressed remorse to the victim’s family – I am grateful to hear this. I hope the victim and his family are able to move on and are reassured in the knowledge that both men have been sent to prison. I wish them the absolute best for their future.”
For personal safety advice, visit: https://www.hampshire.police.uk/cp/crime-prevention/personal-safety-how-to-stay-safe/
