THREE teenagers involved in a vigilante attack have been given a chance to avoid jail.

Thomas West was set upon in Wallingford after boasting of robbing an autistic man in the town, Oxford Crown Court heard.

Grace Steele, 18, and Liam Garvey, 19, admitted causing grievous bodily harm with intent, while Joseph Curran, 19, was convicted of the same offences after a trial.

The charge carries a maximum sentence of life imprisonment, but Judge Christopher Compston said the trio would not be jailed if they could raise a total of £1,500 compensation and gain “good pre-sentence reports” by March.

John Upton, prosecuting, said Steele, of Didcot Road, Long Wittenham, was friends with Mr West and drove him to a car park at the Hithercroft Industrial Estate at 7pm on December 10.

Mr Upton said: “After talking for a short time, the passenger door opened and Mr West was dragged from the car. He recognised his two attackers as Curran and Garvey.

“West saw Garvey hit him with a metal ratchet across the back and face. Mr Curran began punching and kicking him all over the body.”

Mr Upton said the attack, which continued as Steele fled the scene, left Mr West needing surgery on a fractured eye socket.

Henry James, defending Garvey, of Cherwell Road, Berinsfield, said Mr West had six convictions for 20 offences. He described Garvey as “deeply sorry and ashamed”.

James Reilly, defending Curran, of Ford Lane, Drayton St Leonard, said his client was “a naive young man” who acted “totally out of character”.

Stephen Parker, defending Steele, said Mr West “confided in her that he had been involved” in the robbery of the autistic man and her friendship with Mr West was used to lure him to the car park.

He said: “She certainly didn’t know exactly what was going to take place.

“She accepts she knew there was going to be some violence but most certainly didn’t know it was going to be that kind of violence.”

Judge Compston told the group: “I’m prepared, just, to accept there was a background that an autistic boy had indeed been hurt and indeed had been robbed.

“There was, in a way, a motive for what you did but for you to take the law into you own hands was entirely wrong.

“What you did was a disgrace.

“No question, generally speaking, you would go immediately to prison. However, I’m very mindful of this – all three of you come from good homes.

“To throw all three of you into prison, the reality is you would probably come out worse.”

The trio will return to court for sentencing on March 11.