Man claims he was beaten by the thugs who killed Garry Newlove

Jan 21 2008 by Richard Down, Liverpool Daily Post

A FATHER-OF-THREE has revealed he was kicked and punched in Warrington by the same teenage gang that went on to murder Garry Newlove.

Stephen Ormerod, 51, was attacked by the thugs just 300 yards from the spot where Garry was killed in front of his horrified wife and daughters.

He, too, was trying to stop the booze-fuelled teenagers from damaging his vehicle.

He says: “What happened was a virtual carbon copy of what happened to Garry. I am lucky to be alive. My wife and children keep telling me it could have been me who died.”

Three teenagers – Adam Swellings, 19, of Meredith Street, Crewe; Stephen Sorton, 17, of Honister Avenue, Warrington; and Jordan Cunliffe, 16, formerly of Rowland Close, Warrington – were found guilty of murdering Mr Newlove at Chester Crown Court last Wednesday.

Sorton and Cunliffe were named in a separate court case as part of the mob who attacked Mr Ormerod in Warrington on August 3 – just seven days before the fatal attack on Mr Newlove.

Meanwhile, it has been revealed that courts had missed at least four chances to lock up Swellings, the gang ringleader.

Sorton, Cunliffe and Swellings were released on bail for two other attacks on the day before they attacked Mr Newlove. Mr Ormerod, who gave evidence for the prosecution in the trial of Mr Newlove’s killers, said: “What has gone wrong with society when a man can be kicked to death simply for trying to protect his property?

“These kids have no respect for anyone or anything, certainly not for anyone else's property.

“I don't know how we can do it, but we need to get back the sense of discipline and respect that youngsters felt when I was young.

“That isn't going to bring poor Garry back – but it's the only way we are going to stop some other poor sod ending up dead, just because he doesn't want morons wrecking his car.”

Mr Ormerod was attacked after twice confronting five boys and two girls in his slippers and shorts to find out who had attacked his van.

“They had all been drinking and they were behaving aggressively, like savages,” he said.

“It all happened in a flash and I could have tripped, but I think I took a push from the front and the guy at the side tripped me.

“While I lay on the floor covering my head with my hands, it was as if they took it in turns to kick me.

“It seemed they were running past me while kicking me, and two of them were laughing. It was an insane laughter.”

richarddown@dailypost.co.uk