Racist attack teen forced victim to kiss shoe

A white teenager has admitted demanding a black boy kiss his filthy shoe before repeatedly punching him in a racist attack that was filmed and shared on social media.

The video showed the victim, who was previously racially abused on Snapchat, being pushed, punched and deliberately humiliated in Carlisle in March 2024.

The 15-year-old attacker, who cannot be named because of his age, pleaded guilty to a charge of racially aggravated common assault and was sentenced at Carlisle Youth Court to a youth referral order.

Charity Anti Racist Cumbria said the decision would "drive deeper the wedge of distrust black communities in Cumbria feel in relation to the police and prosecution service".

Prosecutor George Shelley told the court that on 13 March 2024 the victim had declined the offer of a fight and been called a "coward".

He was added to a Snapchat group the next day and tried to leave, only to be added back into the group where he was subject to racial slurs, Mr Shelley said.

When the victim left school on 15 March he was approached by four boys, including the attacker, who had previously commented in the Snapchat group.

While aware he was being filmed, the attacker told the black youth to kiss his shoe which was "covered in filth", the court heard.

"'Kiss my shoe or you are getting whacked' is what I've heard being said," Mr Shelly told the hearing.

The victim walked away after complying with the attacker's demand, but was chased and repeatedly hit by the teenager.

Mr Shelley said: "There is a real element of humiliation here.

"[The victim] showed significant restraint despite no doubt being absolutely petrified by the situation he was confronted with."

Video footage shared on social media went viral and attracted "nationwide condemnation", said the prosecutor.

The attacked boy's mother said in a statement: "When I viewed the video I was shocked and upset.

"This has impacted me and my family. We are emotionally drained."

The investigation into the racist attack took more than a year, with Cumbria Police calling it "complex".

The force has since said the Crown Prosecution Service was considering bringing a case against three other boys arrested in connection with the same hate crime.

Defending solicitor Duncan Campbell told the court the attacker was "genuinely remorseful and has shown contrition for what has occurred".

The defendant claimed he had been goaded and felt under pressure to commit the hate crime.

Mr Campbell said the teenager "had never met the boy", but then added the attacker and his family were "very keen to point out" they were not racist.

"Obviously they have to accept that this offence is racially motivated," Mr Campbell said.

The guilty boy was made subject to a referral order, meaning he will have to sign a contract committing to work positively with the Youth Justice Service for 12 months.

He was also ordered to pay court costs and £100 compensation to his victim.

After the verdict, Anti Racist Cumbria said the attack was "preventable" and added that "at a national and local level not enough is being done to actively address racism at an early stage and prevent incidents like this from happening".

The charity said it received about six inquires a week about racism - which often involved violent, physical attacks - in Cumbrian schools.

"Today's verdict serves as a reminder that racism is not being taken seriously by those who have the power to make change," a spokeswoman said.

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