Gary Aubin and Clare Scott have been a jailed for a revenge attack on a teen

by Paul Hooper

A cowardly thug and his girlfriend have been jailed for a total of more than 13 years for a vicious revenge attack on a 16-year-old boy.

Gary Aubin, of Whitehall Road, Ramsgate has a string of convictions for violence including robbery and false imprisonment.

The 42-year-old and lover Clare Scott, 37, wanted to punish youngsters they believed responsible for an attack on a 17-year-old youth, who had been injured in a fight with a group of lads in September 2011.

Canterbury Crown Court heard how the pair and a youth - who cannot be named for legal reasons - drove around estates in Ramsgate in a black Astra questioning youngsters as they went.

After talking to teenagers outside a convenience store in Margate Road, they found a youngster sitting at a bus stop in Prestage Avenue - and, although he had been with the group, had not taken part in any attack.

"you are a bully. you use your physical appearance to cause fear in people..." – judge michael o'sullivan

But Aubin and Scott ignored that and when the 17-year-old pointed out the victim as one of the group he had been fighting, the pair started punching and kicking the boy to the ground.

As he was being punched and kicked, Scott - armed with a knife - stabbed him four times in the head, arm, lower leg and thigh.

Surgeons at the Queen Elizabeth The Queen Mother Hospital, in Margate, later had to operate on a thigh injury.

A jury convicted all three on charges of wounding with intent to cause grievous bodily harm in December.

Sentencing Aubin to seven years plus 30 months' extended licence, Judge Michael O'Sullivan said: "You well knew that Mrs Scott had a knife and you knew she would use it. You knew that when you punched your victim to the ground.

"You are a bully. You use your physical appearance to cause fear in people. I have no doubt that Mrs Scott was in fear of you. With a history of serious offending I have no doubt that you pose a risk of serious harm to others, particularly those who cross you. You supported a knife attack on a defenceless boy."

Turning to Scott, of Coleman Crescent, Ramsgate, the judge said he accepted she had acted out of character and accepted culpability for her actions.

He sent her to prison for six years and four months.

The trio were sentenced at Canterbury Crown Court

Judge O'Sullivan said the 17-year-old did not want to fight in the first place, but once Aubin got involved he had no control over what was happening.

He said: "If it hadn't been for you, Aubin wouldn't have ended up pursuing this young man. I consider your involvement, a catalyst for what took place."

The youth was given a two-year Youth Rehabilitation Order, a two-year supervision order and ordered to do 200 hours' community work.

He was also ordered not to have any further contact with Aubin.