by Julia Roberts

A teenage thug beat up his best friend after finding out he was having a relationship with his younger sister.

After being arrested and held on remand, Buddy Ripley, 19, then plotted with others to stop his victim giving evidence against him.

Ripley, of Langley Road, Sittingbourne, admitted inflicting grievous bodily harm, conspiracy to pervert the course of justice and handling stolen goods.

He was sentenced to two years three months youth custody.

Sydney Samuels, 34, of Cavell Way Sittingbourne, admitted handling stolen goods and was sentenced to a community order with supervision for 18 months.

Danny Moore, prosecuting, said Ripley assaulted Jason Milner, 24, on July 14 last year believing he had taken advantage of his 16-year-old sister.

Mr Milner suffered a broken right arm, a wound to his face and swelling to his shoulder and elbow.

The victim initially claimed he had been attacked with a baseball bat but was then unwilling to make a formal statement because he feared repercussions.

Ripley was initially refused charge by police for causing grievous bodily harm with intent.

But he later admitted to an undercover police officer he had kicked in Mr Milner’s door and left him with a broken arm and needing stitches.

Mr Moore said while being held in custody, Michael Pelling, 32, told him in a recorded telephone call he had “grabbed” Mr Milner and he would not turn up at court.

Ripley told Pelling: “If he doesn’t come to court, I will walk.”

Mr Milner told officers “Mike” from a caravan site at Murston grabbed him around the throat and warned him he would get a good hiding.

He was also threatened not to given evidence by others.

Mr Moore said Ripley was sending out instructions that Mr Milner should not attend court.

Ripley and Samuels also handled a television stolen in a burglary. Samuels offered to sell it to an undercover officer.

Simon Wickens, for Ripley, said the teenager was 17 when he saw red and lashed out at Mr Milner. He had anger management problems.

Tom Allen, for Samuels, said heroin abuse lay behind his offending. He had served the equivalent of an 18-month prison sentence on remand.

Judge Jeremy Carey said Ripley had caused serious injury to Mr Milner’s arm and a nasty facial gash.

“This is serious criminality,” he said. “The court takes seriously perverting the course of justice, because it undermines the law.”

The judge said Samuels was on a long road to rehabilitation. The community order would have a drug rehabilitation requirement.

Pelling, of Harkness Court, Murston, has admitted perverting the course of justice and will be sentenced later.